This session will be a community discussion centered around developing interdisciplinary relationships between academic research institutions and non-academic institutions (industry, government, etc.). Using a new initiative from the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) at Northwestern University as a model to build upon, develop, and learn from, we hope to build a shared understanding of how those engaged in scientific and technological development broadly would benefit from such efforts. The initiative – CIERA’s Tech Council – brings together a group of professionals (many of which with academic backgrounds) to serve as scientific collaborators, technical experts, community liaisons, and mentors. Starting from this point, we ask: What does it mean to create a rich and thriving ecosystem around an academic institution that translates technological expertise into scientific progress, increases accessibility of advanced tools and research, and builds community across varying career paths? As the SciPy Conference is a hub for interdisciplinary knowledge and skill sharing, it is a perfect place to hold such a discussion.