Creative Inquiry funding stimulates industry-related projects

The Creative Inquiry program is encouraging faculty to develop CI projects with external companies by offering supplemental funds to projects with industry partners. These funds are available to CI projects offered during the 2025 Spring and Fall semesters. 

The goal is to increase the number of undergraduates across the University who have the opportunity to engage in work with industries in Creative Inquiry research or experiential learning projects. 

“Creative Inquiry has a successful record of such industry relationships and we are seeking to build more,” said Barbara Speziale, program director of Creative Inquiry. “Engaging students with industries is a win-win for everyone — students apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems, and companies gain visibility on campus and opportunities to recruit students for internships and employment. And because these projects happen during the academic year, they allow students to engage with industries, at all stages of their time at Clemson, without disrupting their academic progress.”

Projects and partnerships are welcome in all disciplines. Previous projects have been mentored by faculty from departments across campus, such as Marketing, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Packaging Science and Public Health Sciences. 

Examples of previous projects include a partnership with Siemens that allowed students to research and develop strategies for improving communication and knowledge transfer between different generations of employees in the workplace, and a project with Trulite Glass and Aluminum Solutions to examine more efficient methods of product packaging and delivery.

To be eligible for the extra funding, a CI project must receive funds or in-kind contributions from an external company —  these contributions can  be used to start a new CI project or apply to an existing CI project.

Faculty with current CI projects who wish to apply should contact Cora Allard-Keese (callara@clemson.edu) or Barbara Speziale (bjspz@clemson.edu).  Faculty members who are starting new projects should apply through ci.clemson.edu.

Visit the Corporate CI website for more information.