Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus® offer industry solutions, fueled by student-industry collaboration
Powered by the vast Boilermaker ecosystem, a new model of innovation where students and industry co-develop real technologies is unfolding across Purdue University campuses. These collaborations don’t revolve around hypothetical classroom assignments; instead, student teams with industry guidance are building working prototypes and viable technologies that deliver real-world impact for industry partners.
These programs, called Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus®, provide companies with a unique opportunity to evaluate and advance Purdue patented technologies. In partnership with Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) and Incubator, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and Purdue University Northwest, student teams design, build, and test prototypes as part of their senior design experience. So far, 63 projects have taken place.
With a diverse range of faculty specialties and endless opportunities for innovation, Purdue is at the forefront of discovering cutting-edge technologies. Industry partners are critical in bringing these world-changing innovations from lab to life and Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) acts as the conduit.
“These programs embody what PRF does best: bring together industry and Purdue’s world‑class expertise to co‑create technologies that solve real problems,” said Dipak Narula, OTC’s lead technology development liaison and assistant director of business development and licensing – physical sciences. “What excites us most is seeing those innovations into the world as companies use these programs to explore, test, and advance new technologies faster than ever.”
Fusion Point® offers corporations access to leading edge technologies, innovations and a cadre of technical and marketing students to support the development and commercialization of new products derived from existing IP developed at Purdue.
Capstone Plus® grants your company unparalleled access to Purdue’s robust IP and what could become the world’s next groundbreaking innovation.
Each project allows a company to assess Purdue patented technologies and the bespoke nature of the programming allows for targeted outcomes based on an individual company’s needs.
“The industry partners we work with interact with many other universities, but they consistently say we have the best program,” said Frederick C. Berry, professor at Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s School of Engineering Technology (SoET). “We know that because they tell us and they keep coming back year after year to collaborate. Companies feel like they’re helping students learn, and that’s what makes it so special.”
These student-led programs can’t replace a full R&D department, but they create meaningful pathways for advancing research from bench to implementation while also shaping qualified candidates and building a talent pipeline of qualified Purdue graduates.
“We have experts all around the system,” said Charles Steele, forensic science lecturer and program coordinator at Purdue Northwest. “With the combined power of campuses and disciplines, our teams of faculty and students simulate a full development department, something that is cost-prohibitive to many of our smaller industry partners.”
The results of this expansive, multidisciplinary approach speak for themselves. Highlighted outcomes of projects:
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projects led to new IP
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technologies licensed
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startups formed
Each project can span disciplines, campuses, and even countries, all fostering future employees who can think critically and solve problems. A few recent project highlights:
- Endress & Hauser Teaching Cart: A hands-on instructional cart giving engineering technology students real world experience using advanced instrumentation from a global leader in process automation who is a long-term collaborator.
- Side Spool Pre-Feeder: A mechanical feeder solution engineered to improve efficiency and reduce manual labor in industrial wire and cable handling.
- Asparagus Harvesting Robot: A semi-autonomous robotic platform built to identify, assess, and harvest asparagus, supporting precision agriculture and reducing labor demands.
- Technology to Improve Water Quality: Frellmann Water Technologies spun out from a project, now commercializing a technology which can destroy a variety of hazardous chemicals ranging from fuel additives to pharmaceuticals at scale.
For a full list of projects, visit the Purdue Polytechnic website.
“When students engage in these unique applied learning and research opportunities, they gain enriching experiences that channel their drive, determination, knowledge, and skills toward solving real-world needs,” said Kenneth C. Holford, chancellor of Purdue Northwest. “Academic institutions are valuable collaborators, allowing our students to generate innovative solutions, contribute to workforce development, and showcase their qualifications to enter impactful professional careers.”
Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus® continue to attract industry partners who benefit from early access to emerging technologies and students’ fresh perspectives. Companies gain exposure to leading edge Purdue innovations and talented technical and marketing students who help advance new products born from Purdue intellectual property.
“We have not yet failed to find the right experts for any project,” said Steele. “We are Purdue. We have experts in almost every field and we’re confident we can match industry needs with the power of the Purdue network.”
Learn more about the programs and how to get involved with Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus® by visiting the Purdue Innovates website.
Media contact: Polly Barks, phbarks@prf.org
