University-industry collaboration for industrial process innovation in small states.

Technology transfer plays a crucial role in collaboration between universities and industry. Much of the literature focuses on training students with skills required by industry. This study highlights how academic institutions can directly support companies in research and development for innovation in production processes. Following a literature review and identification of key approaches, the analysis proposes an integrated strategy tailored to a small state, namely the Republic of San Marino, with the choice motivated by a study period spent at its university, which provided direct understanding of the local academic and industrial ecosystem. The strategy addresses fields such as process optimisation and innovative maintenance policies, leveraging an assessment of industrial needs and university expertise. Results show that postgraduate courses and project-based learning can help companies develop internal skills. Furthermore, the creation of multidisciplinary research centres can strengthen collaboration, generate new projects, and sustain industrial innovation through a proactive training cycle.