A Decade of Collaboration: The Volvo Group and The Integrated Innovation Institute
Over 10 years and 10 capstone projects, the Integrated Innovation Institute and the Volvo Group have gained valuable insights from each other.
By Hannah Brelsford Email
The Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services (MIIPS) program prepares students to lead innovation through hands-on experience. Throughout their studies at the Integrated Innovation Institute (iii), students work on real industry challenges, including a capstone project that solves business problems for a corporate sponsor.
Students are divided into thoughtfully curated cross-functional teams, combining their diverse backgrounds in engineering, design, and business. These teams are then partnered with industry sponsors. Sponsors bring tangible industry problems to the table, while students bring fresh perspectives and interdisciplinary breakthrough solutions.
During the capstone project, students collaborate closely with a company to ensure the solution's feasibility and alignment with the company's needs. The student's final projects include comprehensive plans and go-to-market strategies that sponsors can effectively implement in their operations.
Without our corporate sponsors, students would lack access to the industry experience that can launch their careers. As a result of these projects, many patented products and services have been brought to market by our sponsors.
The Integrated Innovation Institute has over 35 years of capstone project experience and 20 years of sponsor collaborations across nearly 50 corporate partnerships. Connections with companies extend beyond project work, opening doors to further collaboration opportunities.
The iii’s longest-standing collaborator is the Volvo Group. For a decade, our students have worked with the Volvo Group on 10 capstone projects, using their classroom knowledge and innovation to create impactful market solutions.
The Volvo Group
Since 1927, the Volvo Group has been revolutionizing the automotive and equipment industries from its Swedish headquarters. With innovation deeply embedded in its culture, the organization has been an ideal capstone project partner for the MIIPS program for over a decade.
At its core, the Volvo Group's mission is simple yet ambitious: 'Drive prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions.' This people-first philosophy has earned the company numerous awards for safety innovation and sustainable design, reflecting its commitment to exceptional customer experience.
The Volvo Group's leadership in safety and sustainability extends across several divisions that partner with the Integrated Innovation Institute:
- Mack Trucks: Producing medium and heavy-duty trucks for freight and vocational transportation
- Volvo Construction Equipment: Manufacturing innovative building and construction machinery
- Volvo Group Connected Solutions: Developing integrated technology solutions across all Volvo divisions
- Volvo Innovation Lab: Working with partners to identify and create innovative solutions
“We strongly believe in these academic collaborations. These students are the next workforce, but they are also a blank slate. We can take a real-world problem for Volvo Group and give it to these students and they look at it with a totally fresh perspective.”
- Maggie Oren, Senior Strategic Partnership Manager, Volvo Group Connected Solutions Innovation Lab
A Look Back
Let's reflect on a decade of collaborative partnerships through various student projects.
SiteAware — 2015
Bridging Education and Industry
For a decade, the iii and the Volvo Group have forged a transformative partnership that does more than teach - it prepares the next generation of innovators to solve real-world challenges.
This collaboration goes far beyond traditional academic sponsorship. Through direct engagement with Volvo's diverse subsidiaries - including Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Group Connected Solutions, Volvo Innovation Lab, and Volvo Mack Truck - students gain unparalleled insights into complex industry problems.
Partnership Highlights:
- Guest lectures from Volvo professionals
- Internship and career opportunities
- Real-world capstone projects that drive innovation
The MIIPS degree's capstone project is more than an academic exercise - it's a launchpad for professional innovation. Students don't just learn about industry challenges; they actively develop solutions that matter.
As we look forward to our 11th year of partnership in 2025, the iii and the Volvo Group continue to prove that true innovation happens when education and industry collaborate.
