Purdue University and Accenture are partnering to create a smart manufacturing collaborative space and scholarship program, set up to train and develop the smart manufacturing workforce of the future.

The announcement comes as demand for a specialized tech-savvy workforce in the U.S. continues to grow, with the students given access to studies in artificial intelligence, digital twins, robotics and 5G.

Accenture has committed to funding two specific areas over a five-year period, the Accenture Smart Factory and the Accenture Smart Manufacturing Scholars Program. The former will provide instructional laboratories, design studios and spaces where students can collaborate on smart-manufacturing projects, while the latter will provide funds for select students to receive tuition support for up to four years.  

The Scholars Program also includes a Women in Manufacturing scholarship, established to attract more female talent in the industry. 

“With the Accenture Smart Factory and the Accenture Manufacturing Scholars Program, we can prepare more students for exciting future careers in smart manufacturing,” said Daniel Castro, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. “At the same time, this venture allows Purdue to meet the needs of our partners in industry who are desperately seeking career-ready graduates with the skills we will teach in this new facility.”

“We are excited about this new partnership, particularly the Women in Manufacturing scholarship, which will help drive more inclusion and diversity in engineering roles,” said Shiv Iyer, Accenture’s market unit lead for the U.S. Midwest. “By partnering with Purdue, we hope to inspire more students to pursue a career in digital manufacturing of the future.”