Product/process development and design projects will be solicited of local and regional businesses and institutions.  Local and regional companies and institutions will be encouraged to provide a lead person for each project to act as a consultant and facilitator for each project submitted by a company.  Companies may provide use of their facilities to a design team, if advantageous to that company, and with the consent of the members of the design team.  Companies will be requested to provide project support for materials and related support required in the design/development project. 

Innovations and design developments/discovery directly related to the project activity (IP) will be shared between CSU and the sponsoring company in accordance with guidelines in place and/or negotiated between the company and CSU.  Such projects as the preceding will be directly supervised and graded by a faculty member in the depart-ment in which the project is centered.  However, consultation and cooperation with faculty members supervising design project activity in other department of ‘outside’ team members may occur during the project activity.

As mentioned earlier in this document, advisory board members for the Center will be sought from companies having a strong and active interest in participating in and/or supporting activities of the Center.  The precedent for such participation has already been in effect with respect to CSU’s Mechanical Engineering Department for the past several years.  Specifically, industrial/research members of the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Committee serve as technical reviewers and evaluators for the final formal presentations of project results by all senior design teams upon completion of the Spring Semester.     

Partnering with Cleveland-area companies may also enable the establishment of an internship program, or co-op job opportunities in which CSU students learn various aspects of engineering, business, or entrepreneurial practice through that experience.