Types of Corporate Partnerships

1.) Sponsored Research and Fee-for-Service

• Description: MSU partners with companies through two primary models:
  • Sponsored Research involves company funding for faculty-led research that aligns with MSU’s academic mission and may result in new intellectual property owned by the university.
  • Fee-for-Service (also known as Contracted Services) involves MSU providing specific technical services or expertise to advance a company’s internal project, typically without generating new IP.
• Benefits: Offers flexible collaboration models—either to advance MSU’s research and innovation pipeline or to provide targeted, results-oriented services using MSU’s specialized capabilities.

2.) Internships and Co-ops

• Description: Students gain hands-on experience by working with companies through internships or cooperative education programs.
• Benefits: Enhances student employability and provides companies with fresh perspectives and emerging talent.

3.) Industry Research Consortia

• Description: Collaborative research initiatives involving multiple companies and faculty members, typically focused on “pre-competitive” challenges. These projects emphasize shared learning and foundational knowledge, with no single entity owning the results.
• Benefits: Leverages collective expertise and resources, addresses broad industry challenges, and fosters long-term, non-proprietary collaboration.

4.) Technology Licensing

• Description: MSU licenses pre-existing technologies or intellectual property to companies for commercialization. These innovations are typically developed through prior research and are ready for market application.
• Benefits: Generates revenue through royalties and enables companies to bring academic innovations to market without additional R&D investment.

5.) Advisory Boards and Consulting

• Description: Faculty members serve on company advisory boards or provide consulting services based on their academic expertise.
• Benefits: Supports faculty development and provides companies with expert insights and strategic guidance.

6.) Collaborative Research Centers

• Description: Long-term research centers jointly funded and operated by MSU and industry partners, often focused on specific domains or technologies.
• Benefits: Shared infrastructure, sustained collaboration, and targeted research agendas aligned with both academic and industry goals..

7.) Educational Partnerships

• Description: Companies support MSU’s educational mission through scholarships, curriculum development, guest lectures, or program sponsorship.
• Benefits: Enhances academic offerings and ensures alignment between educational programs and industry workforce needs.

8.) Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• Description: Collaborative initiatives involving MSU, industry, and government entities to pursue shared goals—often including joint applications for federal funding to support research, infrastructure, or workforce development.
• Benefits: Leverages diverse funding sources, promotes community and economic impact, and advances mission-driven innovation.

9.) Co-Location and Shared Facilities

• Description: Companies establish a physical presence on or near campus—often within MSU research parks or innovation hubs—to facilitate collaboration with faculty, students, and research centers.
• Benefits: Encourages real-time collaboration, accelerates innovation, and strengthens ties between academia and industry.