EP³ - Engineering Project Partner Program

EP3 logo

Put some of your real-world engineering challenges in front of our nationally ranked engineering students. 

Purpose: Sponsoring Student Learning and Innovation

The Engineering Project Partners Program (EP³) connects companies and community organizations with talented SJSU engineering students through collaborative, real-world Senior Design or Master’s-level culminating projects.  The projects are “real world” because you work with us at the outset to define a project(s) that will advance an exploratory idea, design a new or replacement piece of equipment, or solve a systems problem that is drawn from your organization.  In this way, your sponsorship directly supports student learning, innovation, and workforce readiness, while being highly relevant to your interests and needs.

How it works:

  • Meet with the EP³ coordinator to get connected with an aligned faculty advisor.
  • Collaborate with the faculty advisor to define project goals, scope, and deliverables.
  • Submit a tax-deductible gift (typically $2,500–$10,000) through the SJSU Tower Foundation to support direct project costs.
  • Student teams apply and are matched to projects based on interest and technical alignment.
  • Participate in key project checkpoints, such as kickoff, mid-year review, and final showcase.
  • Stay engaged — your mentorship enhances student learning and connects them to your mission.

Projects typically span two semesters. Fall starts finish in May; spring starts finish in December. Master’s-level projects may begin once a student and advisor are identified.

How You Can Benefit

  • Your contribution is fully tax-deductible and supports educational use only. Gift funds may be used by the team for your project’s direct costs, if any, such as materials, software, prototyping, and other student team needs. Projects may aim toward complex working prototypes, tested designs, or system performance models.
  • EP3 student team formation protocols for each sponsored project..  MS student resume review protocols for MS project work.
    Optional availability of on-site faculty consultations/workshops/project discussions that can be compensated from the gifted funds – no additional costs.  
  • Early access to resumes and emerging engineering talent — observe, mentor, and potentially recruit top students over the course of a yearlong culminating project requirement.
  • Access the experience of an SJSU engineering faculty member, who guides and advises the students as they work over the year toward the project’s objectives.  Higher levels of Partnering contributions also can benefit from scheduled on-site faculty visits for project related discussions, seminars, or workshops, or brief consultations.
  • Strengthen ties to faculty mentors and engineering departments.  Expect that Davidson College of Engineering students will bring fresh perspectives to your real-world problems and engineering challenges.
  • Position your company for sustained partnerships in education and research.  Create an additional applied R&D resource that is comprised of student innovation, design, and prototyping skills
  • Become recognized as an EP3 partner and a contributor to Silicon Valley’s engineering education ecosystem.  Builds long-term goodwill among students, alumni, and the public.
  • Alumni engagement and community goodwill, especially for your organization’s Spartan grads.

Sponsor Recognition  

Premier sponsors may receive:

  • Logo placement on College websites and event signage
  • Reserved seating at our annual Innovation Showcase
  • Special College website recognition for your company’s contributions to engineering education

Get Started

To learn more or propose a project idea, please complete this brief Google form 

Or email:
Dr. Louis Freund
Professor Emeritus
College of Engineering – EP³ Program Coordinator
louis.freund@sjsu.edu