Business cooperation turns ideas into results
250 research and development projects per year, one for each day of the week, and hundreds of student projects on top of it. In the light of these figures, it is clear that active business cooperation is a matter of the heart for LAB University of Applied Sciences.
The aim is to improve the competitiveness of companies and, at the same time, to integrate working life needs as part of education and research,” says LAB's Chief Growth Officer Harri Reiman.
“The cooperation provides companies with new perspectives and up-to-date expertise. And when companies are doing well, this creates new jobs and opportunities also for the students. It's a virtuous cycle where everyone wins."
Business partnerships allow the students to see what type of competence is needed in working life, already during their studies. At the same time, companies will get to know future experts.
Finland’s smoothest higher education partnership
Cooperation does not require a ready-made plan. It is enough for the company to have an idea or need that it wants to take forward. Joint brainstorming is more than allowed.
“Ideas left in the drawer can be developed into something entirely new.”
A joint project often begins with a discussion to review the company’s current situation and needs and to find the best way to collaborate. LAB then brings together the right experts and draws up a plan for cooperation.
“LAB has 650 employees, which means that competence can be found for all needs. My job is to connect the right person to the right company, usually already on the same day,” says Reiman.
Cooperation with SMEs is most common, but companies of all sizes are involved, ranging from start-ups to large listed companies. The companies involved are from Päijät-Häme, South Karelia and also other parts of Finland. What they all have in common is a desire to develop their operations.
Reiman emphasises the importance of smooth and easy cooperation:
“My goal is to offer companies the smoothest higher education partnership in Finland, nothing more, nothing less.”
Clear goals and visible results
LAB engages in business cooperation in various ways. Student projects provide the company with new ideas and fresh perspectives on, for example, its products, services or operating methods. In RDI projects, on the other hand, business, products or work communities are developed in the long term, under the leadership of researchers and experts from LUT and LAB. LAB laboratories can also test and examine different solutions in practice.
From the company’s point of view, the most important thing is that the cooperation is of genuine benefit. If project funding is involved, the cooperation does not necessarily cost the partner company anything – but as this is at least a time investment from both the higher education institution and the business partner, clear objectives and a plan are always set for the joint project. Client satisfaction is also measured regularly.
The results of the cooperation are visible not only in daily operations, but often also on the bottom line. For example, improving the customer experience, developing services or clarifying the company brand may be reflected in increased sales.
“As a higher education institution, we are not only solving today’s or next week’s challenges, but we are also helping companies remain competitive in the future,” says Reiman.
Interested in working together?
lab [dot] fi