Amcor and USI are piloting a semester-long internship program in Spring 2026 uniting USI students and faculty with Amcor professionals to co-create practical packaging concepts that address real industry needs. The project, coordinated through USI’s Center for Applied Research, has seven student participants supported by four faculty mentors as well as industry experts from Amcor.
“As a public University, USI serves as an innovation engine for businesses throughout our region,” said USI President Steven J. Bridges. “This partnership with Amcor demonstrates how external companies, large and small, can bring complex challenges to our campus and tap into the collective talent of our students, faculty and applied research resources. It’s a powerful example of how USI helps our community grow, innovate and succeed.”
Students involved in the pilot project represent all four USI colleges and the School of Graduate Studies. Their disciplines of study include engineering, manufacturing technology, occupational therapy, economics, marketing and art and design. They will collaborate throughout the pilot on a project that builds a business case, value proposition and proof of concept for a specific packaging solution.
Throughout the process, the students will meet regularly with Amcor specialists in product development and design, marketing, portfolio management and sustainability to ideate and refine their concepts, with Amcor leaders also reviewing the final projects and providing feedback.
