Connecting the Cycle - The Research Administrator's Role in Successful Industry-Institutional Partnerships. 
Sep 21 2023, 12-1pm EST. 

One of the challenges of research administration for many administrators is helping a research project flow throughout the full cycle – from conception to implementation to close-out. It is well-known that a gap exists between research and innovation, and the implementation of new ideas and technologies. In recent years, greater effort has been placed on eliminating this gap and working with various stakeholders both within the research community and on its periphery to see that the investments made in research and innovation produce valuable outputs to stakeholders. The value of ensuring that funders see returns on their investments is clear. What has been less clear, however, is the role that research administrators can (or should) play in achieving this goal. This session is structured as a panel discussion and brings together key players in the research and innovation ecosystem that encourages institution-industry partnerships. Hosted by the College of the North Atlantic and the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA), panelists include senior management, a research administrator, and two industry stakeholders from different industries who have been brought together to solve a unique problem. The research administration community will hear about the multi-faceted role that research administrators can play in successful research projects with industry and across institutions, including acting as a liaison between industry and researchers, providing a high level of awareness regarding industry needs, and identifying collaboration and service provision opportunities. Given that certain industries involved in research (such as mining) are highly dependent on external forces and factors (including global demand), being reflexive to rapidly changing industry and environmental conditions is critical – a skill that is necessary for the research administrator.