Lockheed, Penn State Team on Research

Penn State and Lockheed Martin are teaming up to accelerate their research collaborations, which could benefit the work the two organizations have done involving 3D printing.

The manufacturing giant and university have signed a Master Research contract that includes research collaboration, enhanced recruiting relationship and “increased engagement in Penn State programs.”

The agreement will build on the exiting research relationship between the two companies that also includes 3D printing. In the spring, Lockheed Martin had students in Penn State’s Introduction to Design Engineering class use additive manufacturing to “solve new problems or redesign existing solutions for its unique areas of expertise.”

Those designs included heat exchangers, shock absorbers, wire connectors and USB hub mounting brackets. Student design teams had to choose one of these problems and use 3D printing to solve it.

Lockheed Martin’s Keoki Jackson, and Penn State’s vice president for research Neil Sharkey sign a master research agreement. Image: Penn State

“Penn State and Lockheed Martin have enjoyed a long and productive partnership, with the signing of this new master agreement sending a clear signal that our relationship is stronger than ever,” said Neil Sharkey, vice president for research at Penn State. ““I am thrilled that Lockheed Martin and Penn State will be breaking new ground together well into the future, and look forward to expanding our partnership to mutual benefit. Advancing university-industry partnerships such as this one with Lockheed exemplifies Penn State’s renewed emphasis on economic development and job creation, and adds to our growing reputation as the go-to industry-friendly university.”

“Industry-academic partnerships drive innovation, and together with Penn State, we have uncovered solutions to help solve some of our industry’s most interesting challenges,” said Lockheed Martin Vice President for Technology Strategy and Innovation, Robie I. Samanta Roy. “Lockheed Martin is focused on creating generation-after-next technologies, and this new research agreement ensures that we can collaborate with Penn State faculty and students who lead in research that will shape our future and benefit our customers.”

Source: Penn State