March 20, 2026
Shawnee State University has launched ComPEET, an initiative to strengthen industry partnerships, expand student and faculty engagement, and increase innovation capacity.
The program is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation through its Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program, which helps emerging research institutions build infrastructure to collaborate more effectively with business, industry, and community partners.
ComPEET, short for Combining Partnerships and Entrepreneurship for Emerging Technologies, focuses on building sustainable, university-wide systems that connect faculty expertise, student learning, and industry needs. The initiative positions Shawnee State’s Kricker Innovation Hub as a central point for collaboration while extending engagement opportunities across all academic colleges.
“ComPEET is about building the systems that help great ideas turn into real opportunities,” said Amanda Hedrick, Director of the Kricker Innovation Hub and co-principal investigator on the project. “By strengthening how we connect faculty expertise, student learning, and industry needs, we’re creating a clearer pathway for collaboration that benefits our students and region.”
Through the program, Shawnee State will develop processes and tools to manage partnerships, align projects with industry needs, and connect relationships to student opportunities such as capstone projects, applied research, and experiential learning. The initiative also emphasizes storytelling, data tracking, and reporting to show the impact of these collaborations on students, employers, and the region.
A key part of ComPEET is the creation of faculty fellows in each academic college. These fellows will serve as champions for industry engagement, helping integrate real-world projects into curriculum, supporting applied research and strengthening
connections between students and external partners across disciplines including business, engineering technology, arts and sciences and health and human services.
As a regional comprehensive university serving an economically distressed area, Shawnee State views ComPEET as a capacity-building investment with long-term impact. The initiative aims to better align the university with emerging industries, support workforce pipelines, and position the institution as a responsive partner for innovation and economic development.
“Shawnee State is open for business,” said Adam Miller, Interim Dean of the College of Business and Engineering Technology and co-principal investigator. “This program helps us respond more quickly and effectively to industry partners while giving students meaningful, real-world experiences that prepare them for today’s workforce.”
The program also marks Shawnee State’s largest National Science Foundation grant and the first in 30 years, a significant milestone that opens the door to future federal research and innovation funding.
Faculty members, students, and industry partners interested in engaging with ComPEET can learn more, apply to participate, or submit partnership inquiries at ssuinnovation.com/nsf-epiic.