The Pennsylvania State University

The University of Cincinnati stands as a premier public research university with a legacy spanning two centuries. Founded in 1819, UC pioneered cooperative education, creating the world's first co-op program that has since become a model for experiential learning globally. Today, the university enrolls over 53,000 students across 426 degree programs, maintaining a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures personalized attention. UC's co-op program ranks fourth nationally, with students earning a collective $94 million annually through paid professional placements that integrate directly with their academic studies. As a Carnegie R1 research institution, UC drives significant economic impact - generating $10.6 billion regionally and $22.7 billion statewide while supporting over 125,000 jobs. The university's research expenditures reached $738 million in FY2025, reflecting its commitment to innovation and discovery. UC's campus has garnered international acclaim, with The New York Times recognizing it as featuring "the most ambitious campus design program in the country." Home to over 360,000 living alumni and competing in NCAA Division I athletics as a Big 12 Conference member, the University of Cincinnati continues to shape the future through education, research, and community engagement.

Emory University is a top-ranked private research institution known for rigorous academics, a strong liberal arts foundation, and world-class professional programs. Founded in 1836, Emory has grown to serve 16,142 students across two campuses in Atlanta and Oxford, Georgia, offering 140+ majors and minors through four undergraduate and seven graduate and professional schools. The university has been recognized as the #1 Best Quality of Life in the US by Princeton Review (2025) and ranked #3 for Best College Dorms nationally. Emory's impact extends globally through its research, healthcare, and scholarship. The university has been named a top producer of Fulbright recipients for 10 consecutive years, with 189 total awardees. As an academic health sciences powerhouse, Emory operates Georgia's largest Level 1 trauma center and translates fundamental biological discoveries into life-saving treatments through its Center for New Medicines. The university's commitment to access is demonstrated through its Emory Advantage Plus program, which will make Emory tuition-free for undergraduate students from families earning $200,000 or less starting in fall 2026.

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. The University expects all areas of the institution to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world. Columbia University operates a comprehensive academic enterprise spanning sixteen schools, a world-renowned medical center, twenty-five libraries, and more than one hundred research centers in New York City. For more than 250 years, Columbia has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world, combining the intimate scale of a small college with the vast resources of a major research university.

The University of Maryland, College Park stands as one of the nation's preeminent public research universities, consistently ranked among the top institutions nationwide. Founded in 1856, UMD has evolved into a powerhouse of academic excellence with over 41,000 students, more than 300 degree programs, and a global network of 431,000 alumni. The university's strategic location just outside Washington, D.C. provides unparalleled opportunities for research partnerships, internships, and engagement with policymakers and industry leaders. UMD's impact extends far beyond campus boundaries, generating $3.7 billion annually in economic impact for Maryland and $1.5 billion in combined research expenditures. Ranked #10 among public universities by Forbes, with 69 colleges, schools, and programs ranked in the top 25 nationwide, Maryland delivers transformative education and groundbreaking discoveries. As "the nation's first Do Good campus," UMD empowers students and faculty to tackle humanity's grand challenges - from climate change and public health to cybersecurity and social innovation - through the Fearlessly Forward strategic plan, preparing the next generation of leaders to create meaningful change.

Vaayu is the world's first automated AI software empowering retail brands and businesses to track and cut environmental impact in real-time. By leveraging proprietary AI and machine learning technology, Vaayu calculates impacts like emissions, water and waste across product, packaging and logistics, using certified LCA methodologies to provide granular insights and inform data-driven decision-making. The platform enables retailers to monitor product, order and company footprints, identify hotspots in materials, manufacturing and logistics, and test reduction actions through scenario modelling. Vaayu has pioneered research into the climate impact potential of circular business models with Vinted and Otrium, and calculated product footprints at scale for Klarna and Redcare. Other global partnerships include Veja, New Balance, ASKET, Missoma, Ace & Tate and Wunderman Thompson Commerce. Named one of TIME's 2022 Best Inventions, Fast Company's 2022 Next Big Things in Tech, and winner of the Europas 2022 Hottest Climate Tech/Sustainability Startup Award, Vaayu has created retail's largest and most accurate impact database which is continually evolving to power reduction at scale. The company's methodology follows the GHG Protocol and has been certified by TÜV Rheinland.

At Uni Systems, we believe in the transforming power of technology that leads to a sustainable future. As one of the most reliable ICT systems integration companies in the European markets, we've been leading digital transformation journeys for over 60 years. Our approach is built on three core values: Respect, Trust, and Dedication to Excellence. We respect our clients' time, money, and business; we trust and honor long-term relationships with partners and our UniQue people; and we're committed to quality services that stimulate business growth. Our workforce of 1,800+ specialized ICT experts across subsidiaries in Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Luxembourg, Milan, and Limassol enables us to serve clients in more than 20 countries. We see IT differently - not just as a technical tool, but as a bridge between business needs and innovative solutions. Whether delivering cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, AI solutions, or enterprise applications, our agile business model and deep technological know-how help organizations remain competitive in challenging times.