Students in the Polytechnic Institute who launch their own start-up products and businesses benefit from networking with Purdue’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), part of the non-profit Purdue Research Foundation (PRF). The OTC supports Purdue’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property.
A key component of the Polytechnic’s hands-on approach to learning is the students’ year-end capstone projects, in which teams of students combine their knowledge of Polytechnic technologies – such as automation, robotics, mechatronics and mechanical engineering technology – to solve real-world problems for local and national businesses. OTC helps Polytechnic students protect and commercialize the innovations developed in those capstone courses.
Frederick Berry, professor of engineering technology, said his students work in teams to develop technologies and partner with big corporations, small startups and national research laboratories.
“It’s really the best part of this job to see the looks of accomplishment when students come up with designs and technologies and then garner interest from industry or other avenues,” Berry said.
Learn more about PRF’s Office of Technology Commercialization at https://www.prf.org/otc.
Additional information
- Student innovators earn international recognitions, industry partnerships (Purdue Research Foundation News)