= University-Industry Collaboration =
Western Michigan has a unique advantage within the category of University-Industry Collaboration. The Engineering Campus located off of Parkview Avenue exists within a newly staffed '''Business Technology and Research Park'''. A full list of companies can be found here(http://wmich.edu/btr/companies), but the 42 companies taking residence here all give unique perspectives or job opportunities to WMU Students. Additionally, from competing in the "Chainless Competition" to re-designing residence halls to accommodate more residents, the engineering college is filled with senior design projects of each and every engineering discipline. The projects highlight companies located both in and out of the Business Technology and Research Park which have included Stryker, Hayworth, Parker Hannifin, Eaton Corp, Fabri-Kal, Denso and many more. There are two semesters worth of work that concludes with the company sponsors and the Kalamazoo Community attending the day long presentation of projects. Each group has a 30 minute window to present their project along with a written report due to the college and sponsor company. The most recent class of graduates contributed 152 projects and presentations to the university and surrounding industries.
= Regional and Local Economic Development Dfforts =