In essence, the paper defends, from different points of view, the existence of a synergy between research and education. The synergism thesis requires the institutional acceptance of two principles: (i) education of engineers as the creation of a pro-innovation attitude; and (ii) research as an open-minded compromising attitude with progress of valuable knowledge. Based on these premises, this paper denies the existence of a good research–bad teaching paradox and instead claims that research-oriented centres are better prepared to boost modern engineering skills and foster innovation attitudes, including motivation for entrepreneurship. The contribution concludes with the corollary that the well-known European paradox on innovation (good research - little innovation) will progressively disappear as the concept of synergy between good research and good education is extended.