InGenious, so far the largest European education project clearly indicated one of the most important questions of modern education: optimizing the role of industry in education in STEM-fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). In this context, discussing the role of industry in crystallographic education could help to optimize future practices in the field. In an attempt to tackle this complex topic, first part of this review assesses definitions of crystallography, crystallographer and education approaches, and deducts questions on the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary crystallographic education. In the second part, some of these questions are answered by examining current and future roles of industry in crystallographic education: sponsorships, active teaching and technology transfer.