ComPEET

Combining Partnerships and Entrepreneurship for Emerging Technologies  

Shawnee State university receives NSF EPIIC Funding 

Shawnee State University (SSU) has received funding through the National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program to strengthen industry collaborations and enhance faculty capacity for innovation and interdisciplinary research. In partnership with the University of Michigan–Flint, the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, and Colorado State University–Pueblo, SSU is working to reimagine how faculty engage with industry partners. This initiative aims to create richer experiential learning opportunities for students while expanding research, innovation, and collaborative prospects for faculty across institutions. 

ComPEET Kick-Off February 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM 

The NSF EPIIC ComPEET Campus Kick-Off Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 19 at 4:00 PM at the Kricker Innovation Hub at 221 Chillicothe Street in Portsmouth. This session will provide an overview of the ComPEET program, including its goals, structure, and opportunities for engagement. Faculty interested in becoming a ComPEET Fellow are encouraged to attend to learn more about incentives and the application process, while industry partners interested in expanding their innovation capacity are also invited. Co-PIs, CBET Dean Adam Miller and Kricker Innovation Hub Executive Director Dr. Amanda Hedrick, will lead the discussion and outline next steps for participation. Interested faculty should apply by March 2026!

ComPEET Priority Areas 

ComPEET advances faculty, institutional, and regional capacity by equipping interdisciplinary teams with the skills and structures needed to engage industry partners effectively. Through intentional strategic alignment, the program supports the development of shared policies, practices, and procedures that streamline partnership formation and reduce fragmentation. By leveraging regional innovation hubs as “Centers of Gravity,” ComPEET connects relationships to tangible opportunities for industry collaboration, workforce development, and technology translation. Addressing the challenge of siloed engagement, the program emphasizes coordinated infrastructure, continuous monitoring, and clear storytelling to document impact, enabling ComPEET institutions to foster sustainable partnerships that drive student success, faculty innovation, and long-term regional economic development. 

Partner with Shawnee State University

Shawnee State University collaborates with industry partners across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, construction and skilled trades, education, energy, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, serious games, technology, transportation, and more.

By partnering with SSU, organizations gain access to emerging talent, applied research, and innovative solutions tailored to real-world challenges. Engagement opportunities include advocacy and alumni connections, career fairs and conferences, internships and mentorships, senior projects and project-based courses, professional development and customized training, site visits and field experiences, guest speakers, and user-inspired research initiatives.

Together, SSU and our industry partners drive workforce development, innovation, and regional impact.