Vermeer Strengthens Academic-Industrial Partnership

Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa, in partnership with the Iowa State University Research Park in Ames, broke ground last week on the Vermeer Applied Technology Hub – a space that will be shared by students, faculty and Vermeer software engineers, who together intend to advance technology in agricultural and industrial equipment.

The building will include a high-bay space where Vermeer can test and validate the technology developed in collaboration with students.

Vermeer will initially occupy about 23,000 square feet of the 35,880-square-foot space. The remaining 12,880 square feet is available for lease.

The Iowa State University Research Park will build, own, and operate the hub, which is expected to open in May 2016.

Vermeer Chief Operating Officer Jason Andringa said the company is “excited to continue our relationship with Iowa State to demonstrate how partnership between Iowa’s education system and private industry can best be applied. When the state, our education system and the state’s private industry come together, strong economic development potential can follow.”

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