Industry Affiliates Program

About the Industry Affiliates Program

The Industry Affiliates Program (IAP) at the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy is a member-based program designed to catalyze collaboration between industry and Northwestern University, with a focus on decarbonization and innovation in the energy transition.

IAP members are comprised of partner companies—both large and small—from across the decarbonization value chain. By connecting industry members with Northwestern’s world-class researchers and students, the IAP accelerates the discovery, deployment, and scaling of sustainable solutions. For more information, contact us. 

IAP Member Benefits:

• Direct access to Northwestern’s world-class researchers to understand research trends
• Talent pipeline development through access to top graduate and undergraduate students
• Participation in monthly R&D Seminars and roundtables to gain early visibility into cutting-edge research and emerging technologies
• Invitation to IAP annual meeting to engage with other industry members and develop strategic partnerships
• Membership in Trienens Institute Executive Council, philanthropic advisory board comprising University Trustees and organizations principally involved in sustainability and energy initiatives

The IAP is built around the R&D pillars which reflect areas of high impact for university-industry collaboration. IAP members have an opportunity to engage with, learn from, and inform the Energy and Sustainability Roundtables together with senior leaders from academia, industry and government. Speakers and discussants focus on bridging the gap between the research and industry communities through action-oriented and discussion-based planning.

Trienens Institute IAP membership is open to regional, national, and global companies across all levels of the value chain. Contributions from members are made in the form of a tax-deductible gift to Northwestern’s Trienens Institute. Through the IAP, these companies gain access to cutting-edge research, faculty expertise, and a student recruiting pipeline. In addition, IAP members are offered membership in the Trienens Institute Executive Council, a philanthropic advisory board of individuals and organizations principally involved in sustainability and energy initiatives. In turn, Northwestern researchers are informed and supported by industry insights, joint funding proposals and opportunities to scale and deploy solutions.

The Value of Partnership:

• Strategic research collaborations that leverage Northwestern’s expertise and capabilities
• World leading basic and applied research strengths and interdisciplinary teamwork in industry
• Focus on translating research into practical applications and accelerating commercialization
• Opportunities to sponsor targeted research and jointly pursue federal funding to scale and deploy solutions

During this first year of the program, members are working in close partnership with the Northwestern research community to help shape core collaborative priorities and strategies for the IAP.