Relazioni Università-Imprese-Territorio (UI): quali criticità?

In this paper we explore the main critical issues of the university firms’ collaborations through in-depth interviews with 12 “excellent” firms founded by former students of the University of Padua. From the results it emerges that the university can give an overview, to develop critical thinking, but in the case of joint projects there is a misalignment between timing and object of analysis between UIs collaboration, which leads either to the failure to form the partnership, in the case where this misalignment emerges from the definition phase, or the development of unsuccessful partnerships, in the case where this occurs in later stages. Businesses need to be more involved in the university fabric, and internships and placements cannot be considered the only link between UIs. Personal contacts should be more structured, and in this case a crucial role can be played by the association Alumni and Unismart - the University of Padua Foundation established to promote Technology Transfer and Post-graduate Education.