Company/Education relationship

[Kaz]

I was wondering if any of you would be able to shed some light on this question:

I am going to graduate school next year for Computer Science, and I would like to do some relevant research within the game field. Would any companies be interested in having a student such as myself work on a technological problem that they might have? Is there a precedent for this sort of relationship? If so, what do you think would be the best way to begin formulating a proposal?

My initial thought is that although it would not cost a company money to informally work with a student, there would be a time cost, and they would need to perceive you as a person who would be likely to follow through or be generally worth the time.

Although really - I'm mostly unsure how realistic this idea is.

Thanks!

[obsidian]

Define "relevant research". If you mean help create some improved renderer, game tools, or AI behaviour algorithms, then yes, they may indeed be interested. Though if your idea is to generate some script that makes in-game cows munch grass in a more realistic pattern, I don't think they'll consider you.

I know that a few game dev studios have interns so it's a possibility as long as you have something valuable to contribute.

[Hipshot]

I'm not 100% sure what you mean. But I'll answer what I think might be relevant...

I've worked in the biz now for a bit more than 4 years and I've come across many students who have been working on technological solutions and solutions on other things. Like, studies and surveys, engine related programming, evaluation tools, editors etc.
These students does not (as you said, even if it might be different from country to country) cost the company anything but time, but these people usually aren't slackers looking for a good time, they spend the same time working as other people do, with the presume that they might either continue as full time employees later, or doing it for a full exam and being able to continue to other jobs in the future.
If the latter, those guys usually doesn't take as much time in active development of a specific game, but more general things to help a department or the company as a whole.

So I say your idea is very realistic, at least here in sweden =)

Edit: Ofc, you need to show that you are the best or very needed somehow...