On the bustling campuses of Purdue University, a spirit of innovation is thriving, fueled by a unique blend of academic rigor, hands-on learning, and industry collaboration. In recent months, the university has not only advanced its student-industry partnership programs—Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus®—but also celebrated remarkable student achievements in the annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition. Together, these initiatives are shaping the next generation of problem solvers, inventors, and entrepreneurs, while delivering tangible benefits to businesses and the broader community.
At the heart of Purdue’s innovation engine are Fusion Point® and Capstone Plus®, two programs that break the mold of traditional classroom assignments. Instead of hypothetical projects, student teams work side by side with industry partners to build working prototypes and test viable technologies. As of March 26, 2026, these collaborations have resulted in 63 projects, each offering companies a chance to evaluate and advance Purdue-patented technologies, according to Purdue Research Foundation (PRF).
These programs are not just about giving students a taste of real-world engineering—they are about delivering real-world impact. Companies gain early access to emerging technologies, while students benefit from mentoring and experience that goes far beyond textbooks. As Dipak Narula, lead technology development liaison at Purdue’s Office of Technology Commercialization, put it, “These programs embody what PRF does best: bring together industry and Purdue’s world‑class expertise to co‑create technologies that solve real problems.” Narula added, “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.”
The collaborative model draws on the strengths of the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and Purdue University Northwest. Each project is part of the students’ senior design experience and is tailored to the needs of the participating company, whether that means building a new product, refining a process, or even spinning out a startup. The approach is expansive—projects can span disciplines, campuses, and even countries, creating a pipeline of graduates ready to tackle complex challenges.
Frederick C. Berry, a professor at Purdue Polytechnic Institute’s School of Engineering Technology, highlighted the program’s reputation: “The industry partners we work with interact with many other universities, but they consistently say we have the best program. 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.”
While these student-led programs can’t replace a full-scale research and development department, they offer something invaluable: a cost-effective way for companies—especially smaller ones—to access a simulated development department made up of faculty and students. Charles Steele, forensic science lecturer and program coordinator at Purdue Northwest, remarked, “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 speak volumes. Projects have led to new intellectual property, technologies licensed, and even new startups. Recent highlights include the Endress & Hauser Teaching Cart, which gives engineering technology students hands-on experience with advanced instrumentation from a global leader in process automation. Another project, the Side Spool Pre-Feeder, offers a mechanical solution to improve efficiency in industrial wire and cable handling. There’s also the Asparagus Harvesting Robot, a semi-autonomous platform designed to identify, assess, and harvest asparagus—a boon for precision agriculture. Perhaps most notably, technology to improve water quality, developed by Frellmann Water Technologies, is now being commercialized to destroy hazardous chemicals at scale.
“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.”
It’s not just the companies and students who benefit. These programs also serve as a showcase for Purdue’s robust intellectual property portfolio and help build a talent pipeline for industry partners. “We have not yet failed to find the right experts for any project,” Steele said. “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.”
This culture of innovation was also on full display at the 32nd annual Student Soybean Innovation Competition, held in partnership with the Indiana Soybean Alliance. On March 26, 2026, the competition crowned SoySeal, a soy-based adhesive tape, as its top winner. The team behind SoySeal—led by biological engineering sophomore Jocelyn Erickson—took home the $20,000 grand prize for a product that is 90% soy-based, with a 100% soy-based adhesive and a backing that is 90% soy-based (the only non-soy ingredient being baking soda). Erickson explained, “It is currently pressure sensitive and is able to hold more weight than the traditional masking tape.”
The competition, which featured 12 teams and 36 students, is more than just a contest; it’s a platform for developing new markets for U.S. soybean farmers. Erickson noted, “At just a 3 percent market share of the adhesive tape market, we would be able to sell 351,000 tons of soybeans per year with our product alone. To see that come to life and see it enter the market as more of a niche product is something that would be absolutely amazing to see come to fruition.”
Second place and a $10,000 prize went to SoySlipSafe, a soy-based anti-icer for roads, with team members including Lucy Shepard. Shepard reflected on the experience: “Meeting actual farmers and knowing that this is their livelihood, they’re producing soy, wheat, and corn, this is how they make their living. The fact that we could create a product that could impact their life is just so fulfilling.”
The third-place award, accompanied by $5,000, was claimed by SoyLam—a soy-based plastic laminate—created by biological engineering majors Elizabeth Rozzi and Erica Conley. The People’s Choice award of $500 went to Soyé, a soy-based menstrual pad developed by Purdue students Marcia Kusumah, Eleanor Malinowski, and Chanyoung “Ivy” Moon.
Decatur County farmer Roger Wenning, who served as a judge, praised the competition’s impact on the soybean market: “It’s just an awesome competition. It’s awesome to see what these students can do and how they come up with their marketing plans and just the work that they put into this. It’s good for all soybean farmers when we can increase demand.”
The Indiana Soybean Alliance and the soybean checkoff awarded more than $35,000 in prizes, but the lasting value lies in the potential to bring these student inventions to market. After the contest, the Alliance works to develop the products further and evaluate their long-term commercial viability.
As Purdue continues to foster these collaborative efforts between students, faculty, and industry, it is clear that the impact reaches far beyond the classroom. The university’s programs and competitions are not only shaping the future of technology and agriculture but also preparing students to become leaders in an ever-evolving world.