Developing new technology platforms for new business models: Syngenta's partnership with the University of Manchester

Overview: Evidence from academic studies and national-level policy reports suggests that universityindustry relationships are now widely practiced in many countries and increasing in importance. University innovation centers (UICs) offer one mechanism for managing these relationships. UICs are an instrument to mobilize a critical mass of researchers to build new technology platforms and enable the corporate partner to explore new business opportunities, a process that requires work on new business models to be carried out in parallel with technological research. As an example, the paper analyzes the partnership between agribusiness Syngenta AG and the University of Manchester (UK) to establish a UIC focused on the introduction of sensors and informatics into agriculture ("agri-electronics"). © 2011 Publishing Technology.