This paper presents experience how academic research and industrial needs can be bridged together, focusing on external bonding with FRP:s. The paper is based on personal experience from research at university level where the results was brought to the industry and then further developed. The work spans from theory that was incorporated in design manuals to practical instruction how to install FRP:s on site. The author discusses the research from the end of the 80ties until today and how this research successfully was implemented in the construction industry. At the end a process for innovation is presented, based on the finding from research and implementation. The overall work can be divided into five phases; research, development, demonstration, implementation and finally innovation.