Bristol Academic Industry Engagement Roundtable

Industry and academia face a persistent challenge: the gap between how they collaborate and the outcomes needed to strengthen both research and employability. Too often, engagement is short-term and transactional rather than early-stage and strategic, leaving industry research needs unmet, innovation under-supported, and graduates not fully equipped for the roles available.

This roundtable brings together key stakeholders across Bristol to explore how academia and industry can work more effectively together. And we'd love to have your input. By mapping pain points and sharing perspectives, we will identify opportunities to build a stronger, more resilient talent and research ecosystem for the region.

This is part of a project supported by Bristol, Bournemouth and UWE universities.

Agenda highlights include:

• Pinpointing the key skill gaps and research needs impacting employers
• Hearing perspectives on where academic–industry alignment can improve
• Exploring how research partnerships can drive innovation and support business growth
• Discussing practical actions to connect graduate learning with industry demand
• Shaping recommendations for long-term collaboration across business, academia, and local government

We're working with the University of Bristol Business School and Professional Liaison Network - find out more about their existing offering here.