Amcor and University of Southern Indiana have launched a Spring 2026 pilot course pairing students with packaging professionals to develop real-world consumer packaging concepts. The semester-long collaboration will connect seven USI students and four faculty mentors with Amcor experts to design practical, market-focused packaging solutions in Evansville, Indiana.
The initiative is coordinated through USI’s Center for Applied Research and focuses on building a business case, value proposition and proof of concept for a specific packaging solution.
What Is student-led Packaging innovation?
Student-led packaging innovation is a structured collaboration between industry and academia in which students develop commercially viable packaging concepts under the guidance of company experts. It combines technical design, sustainability thinking and business modeling to simulate real-world product development environments.
In this case, students will work alongside Amcor specialists in product development, design, marketing, portfolio management and sustainability.
At A Glance
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Partnership between Amcor and the University of Southern Indiana
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Spring 2026 semester-long pilot project
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Seven students and four faculty mentors involved
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Cross-disciplinary participation from engineering to marketing and design
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Focus on business case, value proposition and proof of concept
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Regular engagement with Amcor’s rigid packaging professionals
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Located in Evansville, Indiana, where Amcor has operations
Why Is Amcor Investing In University Collaboration?
Amcor operates more than 400 sites across 40 countries and generates approximately $23 billion in annualized sales. As packaging technology evolves, companies increasingly seek early-stage innovation input and workforce development partnerships.
By engaging students across disciplines, Amcor gains exposure to new design approaches while strengthening regional talent pipelines near its Evansville operations.
How Will The Pilot Program Work?
The semester-long project integrates students from engineering, manufacturing technology, occupational therapy, economics, marketing, and art and design. Participants will co-develop packaging concepts aligned with real industry needs.
Students will refine ideas through structured sessions with Amcor professionals, culminating in final concept presentations evaluated by company leaders.
What Does This Mean For Packaging Innovation?
Packaging innovation is shifting toward collaborative ecosystems that combine technical design, sustainability metrics and commercial feasibility. Industry–university models help bridge theory and applied manufacturing.
With sustainability standards tightening globally and customers demanding circular solutions, packaging firms are expanding partnerships to accelerate idea testing while building future workforce capabilities.
How Does This Fit Into Broader Industry Trends?
Large packaging companies increasingly support applied research programs to address talent shortages in packaging engineering and sustainability disciplines. Cross-functional development — blending marketing, economics and technical design — mirrors how modern packaging projects operate internally.
Such initiatives also strengthen regional manufacturing hubs by aligning education pathways with industry demand.
What Happens Next?
The Spring 2026 pilot will conclude with final concept reviews by Amcor leadership. If successful, the collaboration may expand beyond a single semester and become a recurring innovation model.
As packaging companies compete on sustainability, functionality and cost efficiency, structured academic partnerships could become a more common pathway for early-stage concept development and workforce preparation.
