Connecting research and industry for innovation: Academia-Industry Meeting (RAI) 2025

Córdoba's Biotechnology Cluster ran this science-industry matchmaking project, centered on the 2025 Academia-Industry Meeting (Reunión Academia-Industria, RAI), organized together with the Office of Innovation and Technology Transfer at the National University of Córdoba (UNC). The 2025 edition focused specifically on biotechnology, with an emphasis on applications in food, health, sustainability and digital transformation.

The challenge is structural: the gap between university research capabilities and the concrete technology needs of industry. Companies, particularly in biotechnology, struggle to identify and access the knowledge developed in academia, which limits innovation and technology transfer. UNC's RAI methodology is a structured response to that disconnect.

The project ran in two sequential activities. Activity 1, preparation and delivery (July–August 2025): gathering technology challenges from companies and institutions (at least 10 documented on the UNC platform), an open call for researchers (target: 5+ per challenge, from a range of academic units), agenda design, logistics, and the in-person RAI event with matchmaking tables moderated by technology transfer officers. Activity 2, follow-up and monitoring (September–December 2025): post-event outreach to participants, interim progress reports on the partnerships formed, and a final consolidated report with impact indicators presented to cluster members.

Quantitative targets: at least 10 technology challenges documented, 50+ faculty researchers taking part, at least 5 working meetings (all moderated), and at least 3 collaborative biotech projects emerging after the event, with a continuation rate of 50% or more. 200,000 (ARS 2.6M non-refundable grant + ARS 2M cash co-funding + ARS 600K in kind). Contributes directly to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), target 9.5.