Capstone design projects connect industry partners with Mizzou Engineering by transforming real-world challenges into hands-on learning experiences for senior students. Sponsors provide project concepts and guidance, while student teams—supported by faculty—apply their engineering skills to develop innovative, practical solutions.
These collaborations offer industry partners fresh ideas, enhanced visibility on campus and a meaningful role in shaping the future engineering workforce. Capstone projects are a strategic way to engage with emerging technologies, contribute to talent development and explore new approaches to complex technical problems.
Benefits to Sponsors
- Early access to emerging engineering talent
- Fresh perspectives on industry challenges
- Strengthened ties to academic research and instruction
- Opportunities to recruit top students
Sponsor Involvement
Sponsors are required to engage with student teams through regular meetings, feedback sessions and technical discussions. While sponsors may suggest project direction and desired outcomes, final decisions about design approaches and documentation rest with the student teams and faculty advisors. These projects are not considered work-for-hire.
Intellectual Property
Capstone projects with IP retention mean that any intellectual property resulting from the projects will remain with the students or university. Sponsors may use projects for internal purposes with appropriate credit but should not expect to hold rights or pursue commercialization unless separately negotiated.
Project Proposal Guidelines
Proposed projects should be well-defined problems that can be completed within one academic semester. Each project will be assigned to a student or student team, guided by a faculty advisor. Sponsors are encouraged to engage with students throughout the project to provide guidance and feedback.
