Siemens and the University of South Carolina have announced an in-kind grant of Siemens hardware and software. The grant has a commercial value of $628 million, said the company in a statement.

As part of the grant, Siemens’ product lifecycle management (PLM) software will be used in USC’s College of Engineering and Computing, and in combination with Siemens automation and controls hardware in a digital factory innovation lab at USC’s McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research.

USC’s McNAIR Center, which offers aerospace education, research, outreach and economic engagement for the more than 500 aerospace-related companies in South Carolina, as well as the rest of the global aerospace industry, will use Siemens hardware and software for student research projects.

The McNAIR Aerospace Center features robotics and machine handling. The new lab will feature Siemens hardware including a picker robot for handling applications, a roller picker robot for pick and place applications, and a general purpose robot controlled by a Siemens Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

[Image courtesy: Siemens]