The technology and innovation incubator is expected to open in the Creese Student Center.
Drexel University and Lockheed Martin will expand their long-standing partnership with the launch of a new STEM careers co-op program, and the fall opening of an on-campus technology and innovation incubator. This facility will serve as a hub for Drexel faculty and students to engage, collaborate and innovate alongside Lockheed Martin employees.
As the technology incubator evolves it will offer experiential learning and research opportunities for Drexel students, as well as upskilling and training opportunities for Lockheed Martin employees.
"These initiatives will enhance our strong partnership and provide additional opportunities for our students and faculty to collaborate, alongside Lockheed Martin employees, on projects that will further diversify our students' experience while positively impacting the surrounding community," said Anna Koulas, vice president of the Drexel Solutions Institute. "As industry and academic institutions prepare for an ever-changing workforce, continuing to build and grow mutually beneficial relationships with industry partners will be immensely valuable to our students and faculty, and to our corporate partners."
To provide additional opportunities for learning, Drexel students accepted into a new program can participate in three engineering and computer science co-op rotations that will better equip them to pursue their career goals after graduation. This program will follow the model of early-career Leadership Development Programs at Lockheed Martin that offer exposure to multiple roles across the business, broaden technical knowledge and provide leadership training and networking opportunities.
In addition to creating the technology incubator, Drexel will expand its current tuition discount program available to Lockheed Martin employees interested in professional development and upskilling opportunities.
"The demand for a highly skilled workforce is increasing every day. We look to foster sustainable community partnerships in the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region that will provide advanced STEM education and training opportunities," said Jon Rambeau, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin. "As a Drexel graduate myself, I am particularly proud that this partnership will support the growth of the next generation of diverse talent, while providing an enriching experience for students."
As the two organizations work toward a common goal of preparing tomorrow's workforce for technical innovation, Lockheed Martin and Drexel faculty will explore areas of collaboration in materials science, advanced communication systems and 3D modeling. These areas are important for the future development and production of several Lockheed Martin mission portfolios in the Delaware Valley including the Aegis Combat System, Long Range Discrimination Radar and SPY-7 Radar.
Lockheed Martin is committed to advancing STEM education and offers STEM and vocational scholarship programs. These programs create a competitive and diverse workforce that can make far-reaching impacts in cyber, manufacturing and other career paths. The expanded partnership will also aim to develop diverse local talent pipelines and build STEM education programs in underserved communities in Philadelphia.
Drexel is a comprehensive urban university of more than 23,000 students, and it is one of Philadelphia's largest private employers. Drexel is a leader in experiential, technology-infused education, enriched by the nation's premier cooperative- education program. The University's recognized excellence in translational research is supported by the Coulter Foundation through the Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership and by nearly $130 million in sponsored research awards last year.
Drexel is rethinking its institutional boundaries and creating a vibrant presence and ecosystem of innovation in and around University City while delivering on the University's public purpose as an anchor institution for Philadelphia. This ecosystem will ultimately benefit students through co-ops and career opportunities, benefit faculty through collaborative research and training, and benefit the surrounding community through the creation of a pipeline to employment.
The Drexel Solutions Institute provides business solutions to the University's corporate and nonprofit partners, including top-tier talent pipelines, customized training and development programs, as well as interdisciplinary research-based solutions that draw upon the University's R1-research capabilities. For more information, visit www.drexel.edu.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation.