Invest in Students. Inspire Innovation. Build Your Workforce.
Industry-sponsored capstone projects connect companies with BCOE student teams to explore technical challenges, prototype solutions and build future talent pipelines.
Partner with UC Riverside’s Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering to mentor emerging engineers, evaluate student talent through real project work and strengthen long-term university relationships.
Capstone projects create value for companies and students
Sponsors can explore ideas, mentor student teams and build relationships with emerging engineering talent while supporting hands-on learning at BCOE.
Innovation Benefits
- Explore new technical ideas in a low-risk environment.
- Develop proof-of-concept prototypes.
- Evaluate approaches to real business or engineering challenges.
Talent Pipeline Benefits
- Gain early access to student talent.
- Build internship and full-time recruiting relationships.
- Evaluate students through real project work.
Brand and Ecosystem Benefits
- Increase visibility with faculty and students.
- Participate in showcases and speaking opportunities.
- Strengthen long-term university partnerships.
BCOE Industry Partners Council Membership
Capstone sponsorship includes access to engagement opportunities that help companies build visibility, connect with students and deepen their relationship with BCOE.
Capstone Showcase Access
Complimentary tabling at the annual Spring Capstone Showcase, with the fee waived.
Student-Facing Events
Priority speaker or panelist invitations for student-facing events.
Recruiting Engagement
Opportunities for mock interviews, student tours, classroom presentations and job posting promotion through student newsletters.
Company Visibility
Company spotlight opportunities on the UCR BCOE website.
Choose the level of engagement that fits your project
BCOE offers flexible sponsorship models so companies can contribute in a way that matches the technical challenge, mentorship needs and sponsor availability.
Faculty-Led Support
Ideal for lighter-touch sponsors who want visibility and outcomes with minimal time commitment.
Shared Mentorship
Balanced sponsor engagement with periodic technical feedback and milestone participation.
Active Technical Mentorship
Best for highly technical challenges requiring active collaboration, regular design reviews and hands-on guidance.
What the sponsor experience looks like
Capstone partnerships are structured around project alignment, mentorship and student presentations that create meaningful engagement from beginning to end.
Align the project and team
- Team matching and project alignment.
- Optional company tour or facility visit.
- Optional company presentation to students.
Mentor and guide
- Weekly or recurring mentor meetings for Tier 2 and Tier 3 sponsors.
- Technical guidance and design feedback.
- Milestone reviews and iteration support.
See outcomes and connect
- Final showcase presentations.
- Prototype demonstrations.
- Q&A with student teams.
- Recruiting and networking opportunities.
Plan around BCOE capstone timelines
Courses vary from one to three quarters depending on major. The bars below show whether a capstone course runs for one quarter, two quarters or the full academic year.
| Discipline or Course Area | Fall 2026 Sept.–Dec. |
Winter 2027 Jan.–Mar. |
Spring 2027 Mar.–Jun. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioengineering | Fall–Spring 3-quarter sequence | ||
| Chemical and Environmental Engineering | — Not active this quarter | Winter–Spring 2-quarter sequence | |
| Electrical Engineering | Fall–Winter 2-quarter sequence | — Not active this quarter | |
| Materials Science | — Not active this quarter | Winter–Spring 2-quarter sequence | |
| Mechanical Engineering 1 | Fall–Winter 2-quarter sequence | — Not active this quarter | |
| Mechanical Engineering 2 | — Not active this quarter | Winter–Spring 2-quarter sequence | |
| Computer Science | Fall–Winter 2-quarter sequence | — Not active this quarter | |
| AI | Fall–Spring 3-quarter sequence | ||
| Operating Systems | — Not active this quarter | — Not active this quarter | Spring 1-quarter course |
| Databases | Fall 1-quarter course | — Not active this quarter | — Not active this quarter |
| Networks | — Not active this quarter | Winter 1-quarter course | — Not active this quarter |
| Embedded Systems | — Not active this quarter | Winter 1-quarter course | — Not active this quarter |
| Graphics | — Not active this quarter | — Not active this quarter | Spring 1-quarter course |
| Data Science* | Fall 1-quarter course | — Not active this quarter | — Not active this quarter |
*Data Science is the only graduate course listed. All other courses listed are undergraduate courses.
NDA, IP and legal considerations
BCOE capstone projects are primarily designed as student mentorship, experiential learning and talent pipeline partnerships. Most undergraduate projects focus on problem exploration and proof-of-concept work rather than formal intellectual property development.
How does confidentiality work?
- Students do not sign on behalf of the university. Students sign on their own.
- When needed, UCR coordinates nondisclosure agreements through UCR RED, not faculty.
- UCR nondisclosure agreement templates or sponsor nondisclosure agreements may be used.
What if intellectual property ownership is required?
Sponsors seeking formal intellectual property ownership or contract-style research and development outcomes are often better served through sponsored research or graduate collaborations.
Legal coordination is typically completed before the course start date.
Are capstone projects formal research contracts?
The materials position capstone projects as mentorship, experiential learning and talent pipeline partnerships. Sponsors seeking formal research and development outcomes should discuss sponsored research or graduate collaboration options.
Start with a conversation
The partnership process helps align company goals, faculty expectations and the student learning experience before the course begins.
Introductory Meeting
Schedule a 30-minute introductory conversation to discuss goals, departments and project fit.
Scope Alignment
Meet with faculty to define project scope, mentorship expectations and the student learning experience.
Confirm Sponsorship
Finalize sponsorship philanthropic donation no later than one week prior to the course start.
Suggested contribution: $5,000 per project
Schedule a 30-minute introductory conversation
Connect with BCOE to discuss your goals, possible project fit and the sponsorship model that best supports your team and student learning.
Cory Hollingsworth (they/he)
Associate Director of Development