Where Research Meets Reality: Autodesk Reimagines its Research Residency Program

Imagine a meeting point between academic inquiry and the messy, material realities of design and making. Where speculative ideas are tested against real constraints and where those constraints, in turn, reshape the questions students ask. Enter the Autodesk Research Residency Program.

Introducing the new Academic Research Cohort

The Residency program has connected academic research with real-world design and make challenges since its inception. Now, with the launch of the Research Cohort, the program enters a new phase that offers a more structured, sustained approach to research teams in academia, along with industry collaboration.

Cohort teams will pursue their research over a dedicated annual cycle that aligns with academic calendars. While past academic Resident teams participated in broader research timeframes, cohort teams will be more aligned with defined phases and deeper team integration that culminates in a graduation moment for them to celebrate and acknowledge their work. They’ll continue to have access to Autodesk Technology Centers – a broad network of researchers and practitioners –  and opportunities to share work, get feedback, and prototype ideas in real-world contexts.

Connecting Academia and Industry

Alongside The Academic Research Cohort, the Industry Research Network brings together and supports teams actively building and iterating in practice. Together, these two participation modes are designed to connect inquiry and practice in ways that strengthen and inform both.

“The Research Residency Program is part of a broader commitment across Autodesk to support research, experimentation, and collaboration between academia and industry, and this new structure helps us do that in a more meaningful way,” said Athena Moore, Community Engagement Strategy Manager at Autodesk. “This evolution brings together different strengths from academic and industry contexts—combining focused collaboration with ongoing iteration to create a more connected and supportive environment for sustained research over time.”

Program Impact and Resources

The Autodesk Research Residency Program has supported more than 700 teams across academia and industry, enabling deep inquiry, shared learning, and real-world application.

Unlike a traditional fellowship, the program serves as a collaborative R&D relationship, focusing on well-defined, real-world projects developed by teams that span startups, academia, and industry. Residents gain access to tools, fabrication labs, and Autodesk engineers, working closely to explore and de-risk emerging technologies. Additionally, teams have access to a range of resources that support research and design-to-make exploration, including:

• Access to prototyping and fabrication at Autodesk Technology Centers in San Francisco and Boston, with access to advanced equipment, training, and technical support.
• Connections with a global network of researchers, practitioners, and Autodesk teams for collaboration and feedback.
• Opportunities to participate in hybrid programs and events to share work, gather input, and contribute to ongoing research conversations.
• Access to Autodesk software, with support for developing and showcasing new tools and workflows.

Meet the Inaugural Cohort

The first-ever cohort class brings together more than 80 PhD and graduate students at leading universities and institutions around the world. Over the coming months, they will engage in a structured, cohort-based research experience – working alongside a global network of researchers and practitioners to explore how their work can be tested, refined, and translated into real-world design and make contexts. Through this process, teams will take on complex, real-world challenges and build, test, and iterate inside the Autodesk Technology Centers.

2026 Cohort teams include:

California College of the Arts
California State University, Northridge
Carnegie Mellon University
Class Creatives Inc
Cornell University
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sheridan College
Stanford University
The University of Texas at Austin
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of Southern California
University of Stuttgart
University of Tennessee
Wentworth Institute of Technology

Learn more about the Autodesk Research Residency Program.