Product Development and Innovation Require Continuous Renewal, but Internal Company Processes Can Become Rigid Over Time
Student collaboration provides a cost-effective way to bring fresh ideas into the organization and challenge established ways of working. Cooperation with educational institutions serves both as an ideation tool and as a sparring platform, helping companies test new concepts and validate development directions. In the health technology sector—where regulation and patient safety impose strict requirements—the up-to-date theoretical knowledge and digital expertise brought by students can open new opportunities for product development.
Why Does Student Collaboration Bring Fresh Perspectives and Innovations to Companies?
Students bring current theoretical knowledge that is often fresher than the expertise held by established industry players. University curricula are continuously updated to reflect the latest developments in the field, meaning students have access to the most recent research findings and methods. In health technology, this is particularly visible in the level of digital competence and awareness of regulatory changes, such as the EU Medical Device Regulation.
Student collaboration functions as an effective ideation tool because students are not bound by the organization’s internal structures or historical solution models. They naturally question established processes and offer alternative approaches to problems. This questioning mindset can reveal development opportunities that would otherwise remain unnoticed.
Cost-effectiveness is a significant advantage in company collaborations. Student projects enable the testing of ideas and development of concepts without large investments. Projects can be integrated into studies, creating mutual benefit: the company receives research and development work, the student gains practical experience, and educational institutions strengthen their industry connections.
How Does Student Collaboration Work in Practice in the Ideation Process?
Collaboration with educational institutions can take several forms. Project work is the most common and typically lasts one academic semester. Thesis projects offer a deeper collaboration opportunity, allowing a student to focus on a specific development challenge for months. Internships, on the other hand, integrate students into daily operations and enable broader team integration.
Innovation competitions and hackathons are particularly suitable when a company wants to quickly test multiple different approaches to the same problem. These events generate a large number of ideas and prototypes in a short time, from which the best can be further developed.
Structuring the collaboration is critical to achieving maximum benefit. Tasks must be defined clearly enough to provide direction, yet leave room for creativity. When setting objectives, both the company’s business needs and the students’ learning and development goals should be considered. Schedules must be aligned with the academic calendar, which means planning should begin well in advance of the project start.
Guidance structure significantly affects outcomes. Students need regular feedback and support, but also freedom to experiment with their own solutions. A designated contact person from the company ensures smooth communication and helps students understand the specific characteristics of the industry.
What Benefits Does Sparring with Students Bring to Product Development?
As a sparring platform, student collaboration offers a unique opportunity for usability testing with fresh users. Students often represent a user group accustomed to digital solutions and expecting intuitive interfaces. Their feedback helps identify usability issues early, when changes are still inexpensive to implement.
Concept validation with students brings forward perspectives the development team may not have considered. Students can test various usage scenarios and identify risks from a new angle. In the health technology context, this is especially valuable, as testing patient safety perspectives requires multidisciplinary expertise.
Rapid prototyping iteration works efficiently in student collaborations. Students can experiment with different technical implementations and user interface solutions without tying up the company’s own resources for long periods in one direction. This enables agile development and quick learning about what works and what does not.
Challenging regulatory requirements in a constructive way is another major advantage. Students who have recently studied medical device regulation can bring new interpretations and approaches to compliance. We have observed that this can lead to innovative solutions that meet regulatory requirements more efficiently than traditional methods.
How to Start Student Collaboration and Make It a Successful Partnership?
Initiating collaboration begins with identifying the right educational institutions and degree programs. In health technology, relevant programs can be found at technical universities, health sciences institutions, and business programs focused on health technology. It is worthwhile to map which institutions offer expertise most central to your own business.
Contact with the institution is often made directly to responsible teachers or coordinators of working-life partnerships. Defining the project together with the institution ensures it serves both the company’s needs and the curriculum objectives. A clear project plan—specifying goals, schedule, and resources—creates the foundation for successful collaboration.
Organizing guidance and support requires resources from the company, but the investment pays for itself. Regular meetings, clear communication, and constructive feedback help students succeed. Ensuring mutual value is the basis for long-term cooperation. Students gain practical experience and work-life contacts; the company receives fresh ideas and potential future employees.
Building a long-term partnership with educational institutions strengthens the company’s position as an attractive collaboration partner. Successful projects often lead to new cooperation opportunities and recommendations to other students. We encourage companies to view student collaboration as a strategic investment that supports both innovation and future talent recruitment.
