Collaborative research: epiic combining partnerships and entrepreneurship for emerging technologies (COMPEET)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $400,000 under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) to the University of Michigan – Flint, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. The COMPEET (Combining Partnerships and Entrepreneurship for Emerging Technologies) initiative is a collaborative research project involving four regional public universities that aims to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by integrating previously siloed research centers and innovation hubs with local industry needs and academic programs. The project delivers strategic services including mapping of regional innovation assets, development of formalized external partnership practices, and creation of sustainable industry collaboration frameworks that connect faculty and student expertise with commercial demand.

Under this award, the participating universities will establish centers of gravity for innovation across four distinct regions, generating scalable insights and best practices for peer institutions nationwide. Key deliverables include strengthened translational research and development capacity, support for technology startup growth, enhanced student and faculty engagement in real-world problem-solving, and development of vibrant innovation networks that contribute to regional economic resilience. The initiative directly supports NSF's mission by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, students, industry leaders, and regional businesses to address evolving technology-driven economic priorities and build robust pathways for community engagement and economic development.

Abstract

This project brings together four regional public universities with a shared commitment to advancing innovation and economic development in their respective communities. While each institution has already established research centers and innovation hubs, these efforts have often operated in silos, disconnected from both local industry needs and academic programs. By collaborating, the universities aim to build stronger, more integrated relationships with regional businesses, provide students and faculty with meaningful opportunities to engage in real-world problem-solving, and support the growth of emerging technologies and startups. The overarching objective is to create robust pathways for students and communities to thrive in the evolving technology-driven economy. The collaborative initiative seeks to contribute to the enhancement of regional innovation ecosystems by developing shared strategies for external engagement and industry collaboration. Recognizing the unique role regional universities play in understanding and responding to local priorities, the project will work to dismantle institutional silos, map innovation assets within each region, and implement formalized practices for building sustainable external partnerships. Faculty, students, industry leaders, and regional businesses will be actively involved in fostering new collaborations, thus creating vibrant networks that align academic expertise with industry demand. By modeling centers of gravity for innovation in four distinct regions, the cohort will generate scalable insights and share best practices with peer institutions nationwide. Compeet aims to strengthen the translational research and development capacity, support tech startups and industry partners, and contribute to stronger and resilient regional economies. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.