Paper short abstract:

Researching with industry is very much needed in my project but it is also needed in anthropology in order to have a more complete view of our world and society. In this paper, I draw on the example of a difficult but successful multidisciplinary collaboration with industry partners.

Paper long abstract:

My research is in the context of a large EU Horizon 2020 project on responsible research and innovation in AM (Additive Manufacturing, sometimes called 3D printing) technology in the automotive and medical equipment industries.

The project comprises academics of which I am the only anthropologist, AM equipment companies, potential suppliers of AM components, the research centre of an automotive company, hospitals, universities, and other users of AM equipment. In this context, I want to concentrate on the experience I had inside a company, which produces machines for AM. Collaboration with industry can be an incredible opportunity to access environments otherwise impossible to be part of with a very privileged position, but it is often hard to balance research and requests from the company management. How to create a successful relation and full access when the company does not pay for your work and there is no clear benefit from their side? How to be flexible and keep open to the field but at the same time pay attention not to be manipulated or used for other interests?

Methodological expectations often differ and negotiation of space is required. How to maintain research ethics and good practices, when constantly challenged and questioned in its own methodological foundations by both industry and research partners? Expectations in terms of final results might also be dissimilar. How to mitigate such expectations coming from industry, but also from colleagues of other disciplines, used to different types of research and different timings?