Innovation Center

The first-year course Engineering Innovation (EGR 103) focuses on multi-disciplinary innovation projects primarily geared towards skill development in the areas of requirements analysis, creativity, conceptual design, design and problem-solving processes, prototyping, teamwork, and project communications. Application to the development of a new product or technology meeting societal needs. This course is part of the Integrated Engineering Core for all engineering students.

• MEE 431L/ECE 431L Multidisciplinary Design Lab I: Required for electrical, computer and mechanical engineering majors. One-credit hour that emphasizes conceptual design and requires extensive research, brainstorming, ideation, decision analysis, and a final embodiment design. By developing conceptual design, student teams are better prepared for MEE 432L/ECE 432L, which involves design, build, test and a business plan.
• MEE/ECE 432 Multidisciplinary Design I: Dive deeper into the product realization process and focus on conceptual design, embodiment design, final design and prototyping. Learn the analysis of the design criteria for safety, ergonomics, environment, cost and sociological impact.
• ECT/IET/MCT 490 - Senior Project: Advanced study and research of the product realization process focusing on conceptual design, embodiment design, final design, and prototyping or other design verification. Students work on externally sponsored engineering projects in multidisciplinary teams that perform engineering analysis that may include safety, ergonomics, environmental, cost and sociological impact of their designs.
• IET 323 Project Management: Required for all disciplines within Engineering Technology. Defines critical characteristics of effective project management: meeting effectiveness, project proposal development, project planning, work breakdown structure, decision-making techniques, styles of management, communications, teaming skills, strategies and valuable oral and written presentation skills.

The Innovation Center is home to the senior design capstone courses for all majors except civil engineering and chemical engineering, which is run by their departments.

In the senior design capstone, teams of students from multiple majors work together to solve a client issue. Clients can be community partners, industry businesses or individuals. Throughout your senior year, you'll work with your team and client to brainstorm, test, refine and construct your solution.

Capstone projects are presented at a culminating presentation day.

Dayton is a nucleus of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. The minor in technical entrepreneurship provides students an opportunity to cultivate and develop their entrepreneurial mindset through transfer of knowledge, experiential learning and practice. The minor leads the students through all the stages of new venture creation, intellectual property, patent, researching funding solutions and more.

The Stitt Scholars Program provides students with experiential learning opportunities (paid internships) through collaboration with clients in the Dayton community. Program participants gain and enhance their problem-solving skills in innovation and entrepreneurship. They collaborate with the L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Entrepreneurs Center at The Hub Powered by PNC Bank to provide impactful experiential learning opportunities for the students during the academic year.