Through the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program, companies can connect with students of many majors on more than 100 teams embedded in faculty-led, long-term undergraduate research, design, and creativity. The multi-semester, multi-disciplinary structure creates large, “vertically integrated” teams where returning students mentor new students, and all students gain experience vital to today’s global workforce.
Our data show that participation in VIP increases students’ team management and technical leadership skills. In addition, in Georgia Tech exit surveys, VIP students reported higher scores in their ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and in understanding technology applications relevant to their fields of study. We offer multiple ways to support this high impact program.
Industrial Affiliates Program
Companies can partner directly with VIP teams through our Industrial Affiliates program. This program can help companies with workforce development by building long-term relationships with students embedded in faculty projects. We are able to offer this opportunity for just $20k per team per year with no overhead charges because funding goes directly to student activities on the teams.
Orin Lincoln
Georgia Tech VIP alum, engineer at Pure Storage
Sponsor Benefits
In the program, company representatives work directly with the Georgia Tech faculty who lead the sponsored team to shape the partnership in a way that benefits both parties. Interactions can include career or technical presentations from company representatives, feedback from company representatives on student presentations, tours or visits to company facilities, and much more.
- Opportunities to recruit motivated students early in their academic careers
- Invites to annual poster sessions, meet and greets, and other events involving VIP students
- Company-team interactions tailored to fit mutual interests
- Company name and logo displayed on VIP website
Please note that while the $20k amount cannot include deliverables, there is a chance to build the $20k into a larger standard research contract with the faculty member. Intellectual property produced by VIP students follows guidelines laid out by the Georgia Tech Intellectual Property Policy.
Become an Industrial Affiliate Today
To get started, companies can search teams by discipline, technology, or keyword to determine which team(s) they wish to support. Companies can directly contact the faculty team leads listed on the team pages and/or contact VIP Assistant Director Leah Misemer (lmisemer6@gatech.edu) for additional details.
Other Giving Opportunities
Jessica Britt
Georgia Tech VIP Alum, Accenture
Donors looking to support a program that helps Georgia Tech students put learning into practice need look no further than VIP. With over 1/3 of graduating students participating in VIP at some point during their time at Georgia Tech, supporting VIP is a way for donors to have a large impact for students all over campus. Georgia Tech alums can also support VIP by volunteering as judges or team mentors.
Giving Opportunities Include
- Seed Grants for VIP teams: Seed grants help fund set up costs for faculty starting new VIP teams, including materials and supplies, travel, and team building activities.
- Innovation Grants for VIP teams: Innovation grants help support the activities of established VIP teams, including exhibitions, research and development costs, materials and supplies, travel, and team building activities.
- Innovation Competition Sponsorship: Sponsors of the annual Innovation Competition fund event costs and student awards for the annual Innovation Competition event. Sponsors receive recognition in Innovation Competition materials, including the program for the event.
- General VIP Program Support: Funds day to day operations involved in running a large program that embeds multidisciplinary student teams in faculty research all over campus.
To Organize a Gift
You can organize a gift for VIP through Georgia Tech development offices in any campus department. Just let them know you wish to support the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program. If you have questions or want to discuss further, reach out to VIP Assistant Director Leah Misemer (lmisemer6@gatech.edu) directly or contact us using the form linked below.
Our sponsors
VIP extends its thanks to the generous supporters listed below.*
Industrial Affiliates
External Peer-Reviewed Grants
Georgia Tech Alumni
- Eloise P. and Warren L. Batts
- Hugh Austin Brown
- Jim Carreker
- John and Kathleen Ligon
Institutional Support
- Georgia Research Alliance
- Georgia Tech College of Engineering
- Georgia Tech College of Computing
- Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
- Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Georgia Tech Center for Teaching and Learning
- Georgia Tech Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)
*We do our best to keep this list up to date. If you have additions to make, contact us using the form on this site.