About Us

Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) is transforming how students learn, employers connect, and communities grow—right here in Michigan.

Led by Emerge in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, EPIC in Michigan is building a statewide movement rooted in real-world problem-solving, skill-building, and employer engagement. Through EPIC, students tackle real challenges provided by employers and organizations, gaining hands-on experience, career exposure, and critical soft skills along the way.

But we’re not just running a program—we’re building a Collective.
Across Michigan, EPIC Collectives (schools, industries, nonprofits, regional groups, and more) host challenges that allow students to present their innovative solutions. These projects start locally in classrooms, grow into regional showcases, and culminate in statewide and national recognition—mirroring the excitement and structure of a modern-day science fair, but built for the future of work.

Our Mission

To connect education and industry through challenge-based learning that develops talent, strengthens communities, and prepares students for the real world.

Our Vision

We envision a scalable network of EPIC partnerships, where students will have an opportunity to showcase their projects at the state and national level. Students will begin by presenting to employers at the local level, before moving on to present alongside other schools in the region. From there, select teams from each regional district will advance to the state level, where they will share their work with a wider audience of educators, industry leaders, and community stakeholders. Ultimately, the strongest teams from each state will earn the opportunity to present on the national stage, showcasing their innovations to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Join us. Inspire students. Solve real problems. Build an EPIC future—together.