Despite the difference in the goals of businesses (profit maximization and cost minimization) and universities (training highly qualified personnel and achieving high results in educational, scientific and innovative activities), these organizations are interdependent, and achieving high efficiency of their activities is impossible without their cooperation. To date, there are many barriers to effective interaction between business and universities. In addition, the lack of a com-prehensive approach to promote the integration of scientific and educational institutions and business is an urgent problem in the Russian Federation. The article presents the results of questionnaire survey of top and middle managers of organizations in various spheres of activity to identify their demand for engineering personnel, to assess the quality of engineering education, as well as their interest in cooperation with universities and implementation of joint projects. The organizations' demand for engineering graduates up to 2033 has been identified. The competencies, which, in the opinion of business representatives, are lacking in engineering graduates, are formulated. The barriers that hinder effective cooperation between universities and business, as well as the factors that contribute to the leveling of problems of integration of higher education institutions with industrial partners are considered.