Academic engineering research at a time of change: the tilt towards industry

A study is being performed of university based engineering research contributions to industry in the United States. Preliminary results from telephone interviews with academic engineering researchers who reported that their research had led to major developments in industry, and with their industrial counterparts, indicate a variety of research activities related to industrial needs, a number of tangible, industrially oriented outcomes from the research, multiple modes of university industry research involvement and benefits to students who participate. The results presented in the paper provide evidence that academic engineering researchers are substantially involved in commercialization activities and in making contributions to industry in a variety of ways.