Sept. 23, 2014 – The University of Utah’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute announced a new collaboration with PTC, a global provider of technology solutions that enable businesses to create, operate and service products. The two organizations will provide student entrepreneurs and innovators with PTC software for smart, connected product design and related learning opportunities to help them prepare for real-world jobs.
“The University of Utah is already a vibrant place for student entrepreneurs, and working with PTC will ignite even greater interest in smart, connected product design and development,” said Kathy Hajeb, a director at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “The program will give students a jumpstart in the job market by helping them learn the skills that companies need.”
The collaboration anticipates the growing number of university students who will participate in a programs and activities in the new Lassonde Studios building, which is scheduled to open in fall 2016. The $45 million facility will combine 400 residences with a 20,000-square-foot “garage” for student entrepreneurs and innovators. The PTC software and learning resources are a few of the many tools that will be available in the building to all students on campus.
PTC’s gift includes PTC Creo® design software, PTC Windchill® software for product lifecycle management, and the PTC ThingWorx® application platform to build and run connected products. In addition the software, PTC is providing 20 scholarships for students who want to develop expertise in PTC Creo and PTC Windchill business and system administration. Also, as part of this collaboration, Utah PTC customers will participate in workshops, campus visits and mentoring opportunities with students.
“The smart, connected product design process being adopted by global manufacturers is a necessary skill for graduating students entering the Internet of Things era,” said John Stuart, senior vice president, global education, PTC. “We are pleased to work with the University of Utah and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to give students the opportunity to learn and understand the new technology that will help them design smarter, better products.”
The collaboration with PTC is one of the many efforts at the University of Utah to grow the Utah economy. The university works with many companies locally and across the globe to further its research and educational missions.
“One of Utah’s greatest assets is its universities and their willingness to collaborate with the private sector,” says Vince Mikolay, managing director in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The University of Utah’s new collaboration with PTC will give students a competitive advantage as they learn to use PTC’s tools and learn skills they can take into the workforce to design new products and innovations.”
In a related event, PTC CEO Jim Heppelmann will give a talk titled “How the Internet of Things and Smart Connected Products are Changing the World” Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2-3 p.m. at the Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building (Bill and Pat Child Family Community Hall, 7th floor). The public is welcome.