Florida A&M announced that it received an in-kind software grant from Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software that is commercially valued at more than $85 million at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Interim president Larry Robinson was first to make the grant announcement. He discussed FAMU’s long and fruitful partnership with Siemens.
“Siemens and FAMU have enjoyed a successful partnership for several years and in several ways,” Robinson said. “Siemens has partnered in projects with and financially supported our facilities and maintenance department, the College of Engineers Summer Institute and, one of my favorites, the FAMU Green Coalition.”
Siemens PLM Software’s academic program delivered the in-kind grant and is responsible for delivering technology to more than one million students a year at more than 12,000 global institutions.
Siemens credits itself as a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering. According to its webpage, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions for more than 150 years.
Tarik Dickens, project manager and engineering professor, said the grant will play a major role in continuing FAMU’s mission to produce world-class innovators.
“This generous gift will provide engineering students with state-of-the-art software for digital manufacturing, thus making our students more attractive to the industry and providing a greater academic partnership,” Dickens said.
FAMU’ participation in this partnership will provide students with world-class training and exposure to industry leading software.
Yaw Yeboah, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, said the software will benefit the university community, especially the industrial and manufacturing degree programs.
“The program life cycle management software, worth over $85 million, that we are receiving from Siemens will provide our faculty and students with up-to-date design and simulation tools for classwork, research, academic and design projects, manufacturing techniques and empower our students to enter and win team-based academic competitions,” Yeboah said.
The implementation of the software will allow students to access to the software that is being used by industry professionals around the world. Graduates with exposure to this software will have a competitive edge in the technology industry.
The software will be available and accessible to all students in two weeks.