A new program will give Wisconsin-based startups, and any Wisconsin company with 500 or fewer employees, a chance to receive partial support for hiring a University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate intern for the summer of 2016 to help implement the company’s global growth goals.

The Partnerships for Global Talent, funded by WEDC and administered by the International Internship Program (IIP) at UW-Madison, are designed to help Wisconsin companies grow internationally while also helping college students develop global business skills. The internship can either be located in Wisconsin with an international focus of work, or it can take place at an overseas facility of a Wisconsin company.

The program provides up to $4,000 to each selected company to help offset the costs associated with hiring an intern. These costs may include wages and benefits for the intern, as well as staff time to identify business needs, review applications and coordinate logistics, which may include visas and foreign tax issues. Each participating company is expected to contribute matching funds that meet or exceed WEDC’s contribution, or to secure matching funds form another source.

Companies in Wisconsin’s driver industries, including advanced manufacturing; aerospace; bioscience; energy, power and control; food and beverage; and water technology will be given preference in the program’s selection process.

Companies that wish to hire an intern for the summer of 2016 can submit an initial expression of interest via the IIP website, and from there IIP staff will help companies determine whether the program suits their needs and how to structure the internship to provide maximum benefit for both the company and the student intern. If companies choose to proceed after these discussions, they must complete the long-form application by Sept. 30, 2015.

IIP will determine which companies will receive funding, and will then publicize these internship opportunities on the UW-Madison campus and accept applications from students. Working in coordination with IIP, companies will interview student applicants in January and make their final selections.