Often academic research is not aligned to effectively address the current challenges and needs of industry. This is particularly an issue with regards to the horticultural sector, where advances in plant sciences are not guaranteed to be transformed into beneficial outcomes for stakeholders (e.g. industry, government, educational institutions, NGOs). Reasons for this range from a shortage of programmes that effectively translate research into applicable knowledge and limited communication and coordination across stakeholders. By sharing knowledge and experience between academics and businesses, we can ensure that research directly addresses these challenges, with effective knowledge transfer stimulating research and being swiftly translated into new practices and technologies. I am proposing a three year project that aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The main aims of this project will be to catalyse an interchange of ideas, experience and knowledge that can drive the sector forward to meet its modern day challenges. To achieve this I would work with industry to identify current issues and their research needs, build a network of academics, researchers, technicians and practitioners to discuss issues raised by industry on a annual basis. I would organise workshops that take place annually over the three years in five key areas; arboriculture, floriculture, olericulture, fruticulture and postharvest physiology. The purpose of these workshops would be to disseminate research by academics to businesses and encourage collaboration between the two parties. I would also liaise with the network to encourage on-farm demonstrations by industry for academics to keep them in touch with current agronomic practices and technological developments. Finally, the production of a website and database of online resources would widen access to research and encourage broader engagement with the sector. The result of the three years would hopefully be greater research impact, an increase in industry focussed research by academic institutes, an increase in CASE-funded PhDs, stimulation of talented postgraduates entering the sector and an increase in the dissemination of research findings to allow for quick translation into practices or products by industry. The ultimate goal of this project is through all of the above to result in the generation of recommendations to inform policy makers as to the current status of horticulture, and to the actions needed to meet the future challenges within the sector.