Research That Innovates

Partnering with Kennesaw State University for product and service development offers corporations a powerful strategic advantage.

Our infrastructure and scientific expertise can bridge critical gaps that corporations may not be equipped to handle internally. Universities are often at the forefront of innovation, producing not only new ideas but also the intellectual property (IP) that can be translated into market-ready products and services.  

research that innovates

We provide access to cutting-edge labs, advanced prototyping capabilities, and faculty with deep technical expertise, allowing corporate partners to accelerate the design and testing of new products.

These partnerships foster experimentation in a low-risk environment, helping companies refine concepts before committing full-scale internal resources. Beyond services, process improvements driven by academic research can make existing products better, cheaper, or faster. 

Joint Research Agreements (JRAs) further deepen the collaborative relationship, offering a structured framework for co-development. These agreements typically involve shared funding and governance, creating a mutual incentive to pursue commercially relevant outcomes. JRAs also allows companies time to identify students who will fit in culturally with their companies, a ‘try before you buy’ opportunity to lower hiring expenses. 

A major asset we offer is exclusive access to valuable Big Data sets, (often collected over years of federally funded research), and the analytical power to make sense of them. For corporations looking to build or train AI models, university partners can provide not only unique data but also the algorithmic and domain expertise to help unlock insights that drive smarter products and decisions. This kind of collaboration is particularly advantageous in regulated or complex sectors like healthcare or transportation, where high-quality data and defendable AI models are essential. 

How to Engage with KSU

A partnership with KSU can function as an external R&D engine for companies, one that significantly lowers costs and reduces risk. Whether the goal is launching a next-generation product, streamlining processes, or building proprietary AI capabilities, working with KSU creates a pipeline of commercially focused innovation with real-world impact.

Highlighted Partnerships

The Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at KSU is a consulting and research group that offers facility assessments at no cost to manufacturers. While the experience students receive is invaluable, the team of faculty and students have recommended opportunities that, upon implementation, could save local manufacturers $4.9 million each year. 

“This program is more than just an academic exercise,” said Amin Esmaeili, director of the IAC and assistant professor of industrial and systems engineering. “It’s a transformative experience that equips our students with skills they will need after graduation. A few of our students have gone on to intern with these manufacturers and get full-time jobs.”

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ksu incomm

KSU, Go Studio launch research project to improve consumer shopping experience

Kennnesaw State University and Go Studio, the innovation hub of payments technology company InComm Payments announced the launch of a three-year research project that will connect KSU researchers and Go Studio innovators to create technology solutions that help retail businesses understand and resolve consumer pain points during the in-store shopping experience.

"Collaborations between the business and academic worlds are crucial to ensuring our industry has the talent pipeline we need in the future," said Mark Holt, CIO at InComm Payments. "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue growing our partnership with KSU to strengthen Georgia's financial technology community and foster the promising talent of today's students."

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