Campus Review Volume 26. Issue 12 | Page 16

INDUSTRY & RESEARCH campusreview.com.au Market forces The tightening links between research and industry will put a premium on practical innovation – and on not leaving people behind as technology advances. Glenn Wightwick interviewed by Patrick Avenell C hinese technology brand Huawei recently hosted its Asia-Pacific Innovation Day – which is actually two days – labelled ‘The Brilliance of Exploration in Sydney’. Speaking on the importance of science and co-operation at the event was University of Technology Sydney deputy vice-chancellor, research, Glenn Wightwick. Wightwick spent almost three decades at IBM before entering academia, so he is well-placed to talk about the role industry should play in the higher-education sphere. Campus Review sits down with Wightwick to go deep into this subject, including to what degree it is universities’ role to promote greater public understanding and acknowledgement of innovation. CR: How important to the university and academic experience are relationships between hardware manufacturers and technology brands? GW: What’s most important for us is the opportunity to work with companies that are doing interesting projects. 14