How can I distinguish meaningful industry collaboration from impressive company-name lists on a website?

Look beyond the number of company names and examine what the collaboration actually involves. Check the purpose—such as research, classes, or placements—the roles of the company and university, how students participate, the duration, the outputs or evaluation method, and whether the activity is current. Project descriptions and reports are more informative than a name list alone; listing a company does not necessarily show educational involvement or results.