3-Minute Read | How Place-Based Partnerships Shape University–Industry Collaboration
March 24, 2026—As universities and companies seek better, more effective, sustained, and embedded models of collaboration, one approach is to use place-based partnerships—models that intentionally align physical location, institutional assets, and long-term engagement strategies. Recent examples from the University of Central Florida (UCF) Pegasus Partnerships program and long-standing research-park initiatives, including North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus, illustrate how place-based partnerships can reduce friction, deepen relationships, expand talent pipelines, and boost regional economies.
Place Enables Partnership
At their core, place-based partnerships treat location as a strategic asset—one that lowers transaction costs, increases interaction, and supports deeper, more routine collaboration. At UCF, the Pegasus Partnerships program reflects this approach by drawing industry partners physically closer to the academic core.
Through co-located facilities and on-campus collaboration spaces, companies engage directly with students, faculty, and institutional resources. One example is UCF’s newest partnership with BNY, a global financial services firm. BNY established an on-campus technology and operations center where students can work on real-world challenges and faculty can engage with industry-relevant problems. The result is stronger workforce pipelines and university-industry relationships, said Michael Harding, UCF’s associate vice president of partnerships.
“BNY’s investment in a co-located learning lab in the heart of UCF’s campus allowed us to build on a longstanding and productive recruitment relationship and unlock net new opportunities for curriculum development and technology-enhanced learning,” Harding said. “It has generated an unbelievable opportunity to continue to blur the line between academia and industry with a lens towards pragmatism and innovative experiences for our faculty and students.”
Place-based partnerships are a long-standing practice at North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus, where companies, government organizations, and university units share space in a mixed-use environment that encourages frequent interaction and long-term engagement, said Keisha Demps, NC State’s director of partnerships.
Hitachi Energy illustrates how industry co-location can deepen engagement across a university ecosystem. The company employs more than 400 people on campus and collaborates with three colleges. It also participates in campus programs that strengthen talent recruitment, Demps said. “As a result, they provide 30–40 internship opportunities annually, many of which lead to permanent positions.”
Under Armour, another Centennial Campus partner, offers an example of how proximity can accelerate research and innovation. The company collaborates with three colleges on the NC State campus as an extension of its sustainability-focused innovation engine and has invested nearly $2 million in joint research. One recent collaboration among Under Armour, The Nonwovens Institute, and Celanese produced Neolast, a recyclable, high-stretch fiber designed as a more sustainable alternative to elastane.
Collaboration typically begins by aligning a partner’s needs with NC State’s research expertise, facilities, and equipment, enabling sustained work that supports education, research, and applied problem solving. The campus serves as a central node in the North Carolina Research Triangle ecosystem alongside fellow UIDP members Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Why It Matters
Place-based partnerships help address a persistent challenge in university–industry collaboration: fragmentation. When engagement relies primarily on one-off projects, collaboration can be difficult to sustain. Physical proximity increases the frequency and quality of interaction and lowers barriers to participation for company researchers, university faculty, and students. Anchoring partnerships in co-located facilities also allows universities and companies to proactively address workforce needs.
The essence of place-based partnership is that collaborations benefit when partners are physically close, relationship-centered, and strategic. When location is treated as a tool rather than a nice-to-have, universities and their corporate partners create conditions for enduring collaboration.
We want to hear from you. How is your organization using place-based research agreements through campuses, research parks, or co-located facilities to strengthen long-term partnerships? Share your thoughts and comments on our LinkedIn page.
Go Deeper
Barker, B. (2026, January 8). Piecing together partnerships: How UCF is streamlining connections for students and employers. Orlando Business Journal.
https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2026/01/08/central-florida-orlando-ucf-pegasus-partnerships.html
BNY. (2025). BNY and University of Central Florida announce $5M Pegasus Partnership and co-location.
https://www.bny.com/corporate/global/en/about-us/newsroom/company-news/bny-and-university-of-central-florida-announce-5m-pegasus-partnership-and-co-location-forging-a-new-model-for-industry-academia-collaboration.html
High, M. (2024, December 18). Celebrating 40 years of Centennial Campus. NC State News. https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/12/celebrating-40-years-of-centennial-campus/
University of Central Florida. (2025). BNY and UCF announce $5M Pegasus Partnership and co-location, forging a new model for industry-academia collaboration.
https://www.ucf.edu/news/bny-and-ucf-announce-5m-pegasus-partnership-and-co-location-forging-a-new-model-for-industry-academia-collaboration/
The 3-Minute Read is a UIDP member information piece and does not represent the opinions of our members or representatives. We welcome your comments on our LinkedIn profile.