One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping companies weave their way through the University of Michigan’s vast web of resources to discover something fruitful for their business. Being able to match a need to a resource is what the Business Engagement Center staff thrive on. It’s how we add value for businesses.

Questions we hear repeatedly from companies are: ”Can someone at the university help my company develop a business plan?; a marketing plan?; or help me ______ (insert a specific business/engineering problem here)?”.

Increasingly, these problems are finding solutions through one of the university’s multitude of student project courses. Student teams work closely with company representatives to address challenging problems and to formulate creative solutions that ultimately drive innovation and productivity. Companies get access to student talent and ingenuity for a fraction of the cost of a private consultant. Meanwhile, students get practical experience to hone their skills for future employers.

Companies have partnered with students on a wide range of projects, from engineering technology, automotive design and business modeling to information processes, manufacturing operations and environmental action.

To effectively catalog all of the potential opportunities, the Business Engagement Center has developed a project matrix on our website. The matrix lists the opportunities according to business need, and provides information on costs, project application deadlines and contact information.

Fall semester is approaching and a new crop of future entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers and scientists will soon arrive on campus. Now is the time to start engaging your business with this talented pool of students.

Daryl Weinert is the Executive Director of the University of Michigan’s Business Engagement Center. He can be reached at weinert@umich.edu.