The report Academia-Industry Collaboration (AIC) in Finance: Models of Success examines the state of collaboration between academia and the financial industry in Switzerland, analyzing key success factors, persistent challenges and practical recommendations to strengthen knowledge and technology transfer. Drawing on 15 in-depth interviews with academics and financial sector professionals, the study highlights the role of shared values, mutual trust and clear communication as critical drivers of effective partnerships. At the same time, it identifies major obstacles such as cultural and mindset differences between fast-paced industry cycles and academia’s longer timelines, organizational misalignments, complex funding structures and the pressures of an evolving competitive environment.
To address these issues, the report puts forward several recommendations, including greater transparency in R&D spending, unified national guidelines for start-ups, spin-offs and intellectual property, stronger alignment of public funding with Switzerland’s competitive strengths and enhanced collaboration between universities to avoid duplication of efforts and increase international visibility. It also calls for the establishment of a national technology transfer office to simplify processes and raise Switzerland’s standing in international R&D projects.
The study seeks to spark a broader discussion and provide a roadmap for policymakers, academia, and industry stakeholders to build a more resilient, innovative, and globally competitive financial ecosystem. The full report is available on this page.