7th Edition of Practice for Universities, Solutions for Companies

On 12 November 2025 in Žilina, the seventh edition of the cooperative event Practice for Universities, Solutions for Companies will take place. Organized by the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) in partnership with key stakeholders, the event will not only be a platform for exchanging experience, but also a space where concrete collaborations with real added value for the future of the Slovak economy are created.

The project’s main objective is to effectively connect academia, research institutions, and the business sector, ensuring that education reflects real labor market needs while giving companies access to new talent and innovative solutions.

Leveraging its network, expertise, and feedback from established companies, SARIO has created a platform that benefits all participant groups while also addressing the availability and quality of the Slovak workforce.

• Companies can propose thesis topics, contribute to teaching through guest lectures or project assignments, collaborate on R&D activities, or offer internships.
• Students gain hands-on experience and direct contact with potential employers.
• Universities and research institutions can improve the quality of education, attract a stimulating research environment, and strengthen their reputation.

The annual cooperative event is the culmination of year-round project activities, bringing together all three stakeholder groups.

The professional program will feature expert presentations, panels, and discussions on current topics such as open calls and grants, intellectual property rights, research commercialization, and more. Speakers will include representatives from CVTI, the National Supercomputing Center, Balteus, Ayming, SAIA, Inovia, SK8, UNIZA, the Ministry of Education, and VAIA. The program will be followed by networking and one-to-one meetings, which participants can schedule in advance through an online platform, enabling targeted discussions on cooperation opportunities.

Interest in active participation continues to grow. The sixth edition brought together 107 organizations and generated 380 collaborations. This year, as many as 168 organizations have registered, and the Žilina event is expected to deliver hundreds of new high-value partnerships.

Project partners include INOVIA, Žilinský samosprávny kraj, Žilinská univerzita v Žiline and DASAto, who, together with SARIO, contribute to strengthening the link between academia and industry.

Did you know that companies can benefit from a superdeduction for R&D activities? This is yet another reason why participation in the project is worthwhile – offering companies the chance to join joint research projects with universities and institutions. During the B2B meetings at Practice for Universities, Solutions for Companies, participants will also be able to discuss this opportunity directly with industry experts.