Another option in the UK is the "knowledge transfer partnership"system. Sometimes you have an academic level problem that needs a year or two of work to solve.

Another option in the UK is the "knowledge transfer partnership"system. Sometimes you have an academic level problem that needs a year or two of work to solve. KTP partners you with a university, which recruits a graduate to work on your problem under the supervision of some lecturers. I highlight this because sometimes interns are used for grunt work, but other times they are used for 'moonshot' projects or a way of bringing in new skills and thinking. This seems like a better way of doing that. I think there is some government money for it also.