INDUSTRY–ACADEMIA–GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING: LESSONS FROM OPEN INNOVATION PROJECTS

Abstract

Industry-academia-government (IAC) collaboration can bring Software Engineering education closer to real-world innovation challenges. However, collaborative projects still face challenges related to team management, knowledge differences, participant engagement, and availability. This study presents a replication of case studies on IAC collaboration, applying Open Innovation and Action Research to software development projects. The research involved 41 undergraduate and graduate students distributed across six multidisciplinary teams responsible for developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) in real-world contexts. A questionnaire completed by 20 participants investigated perceptions of Action Research, collaboration, conflicts, knowledge gaps, and team turnover. The results indicate a predominantly positive perception of the approach, particularly regarding knowledge and experience generation and the promotion of innovation. The main challenges involved people management, lack of experience, and engagement. Turnover had a limited impact on productivity and deadlines, although it required team reorganization. The findings reinforce the potential of IAC collaboration to integrate academic learning, professional practice, and innovation.