”Today there’s a sincere attempt from companies and universities to do things together
Adrian AnacletoFounding Partner at Epidata
The company specialized in architecture services and software development, Epidata, is promoting its Academic Cooperation Program, through which it seeks to promote the approach between Academia and Industry.
Valerio Adrián Anacleto reviews the relationship between academy and the private sector. Since its beginning the company has been interested in the relationship among both scopes and made agreements of academic cooperation, training activities, thesis direction, research and development in collaboration with study houses.
”Epidata’s area of Research, Development and Innovation (R+D+i) has collaborated in research papers with Carnegie Mellon University, one of the most prestigious study centers in United States.
Adrian AnacletoFounding Partner at Epidata
His accomplishments include mutual cooperation frameworks with the Facultad de Ciencias Physics Engineering de la Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA) and with the National University Center of Buenos Aires Province (UNICEN), for making research work and consultancy together, collaborate with postgraduate activities and organize training activities for the academic community
What is your vision about the current relation between companies and universities? We believe that today, there’s a sincere attempt from companies and universities to do things together, motivated perhaps by a generational change at institutions and a new wave of businessman with a different vision as regards commitments with educational institutions and entrepreneurship.
A distinction has to be made between Pyme and corporation, and the academy must understand these differences to know how to interact and what you can ask to each one. Today, the concept of businessman changed and should no longer be associated with that of a shareholder or multinational directors, but a Pyme profile, young, socially responsible, one which does not get close to the university to ask anything, but gives back something it received before.
Businessmen and professionals who approach to repay an internal debt with the academy, understanding that if we want to work well, first, it’s necessary to do what we must and then claim others to do their thing. That’s why we have to talk to people and institutions who try to be different and are so.
Why is it so hard to push this relationship in Argentina?
It is due to a natural posture taken from both sides. The academy often requires investments, money and research material. On the other hand, the industry awkwardly requires professionals who know “java”, “.NET”, “c++”.
In these postures both parties are wrong, because they are shortsighted thoughts and anything but systemic. If companies want tertiary education including Java, we must work on this in the humble sector of the suburbs and generate serious employment programs.
If the academy wants corporate money, we must first debate about a national model of education, in which the university is supported by the state.
Therefore, the proposition is to think backwards: to stop expecting about what can the other give us, and to focus first to give a little of both parties, so that things begin to flow alone. It’s not a metaphysical but systemic, ethic and social commitment thought.
