How the University of Massachusetts Lowell can help

Summary form only given as follows. The University of Massachusetts Lowell has taken a leadership position in making a paradigm shift in supporting industry. In today´s environment, technical innovation has become a revolutionary process. Global competition requires companies to be more flexible in their response to customers needs. Newly engineered materials coupled with novel design concepts is the norm in product development. To counter these powerful market forces, companies are forced to create a new work environment. Vendors and customers are now an integral part of this new work environment. As such these companies must identify revolutionary methods for meeting global competition and the challenge of revolutionary technology. Companies, whether startup or well established, can no longer afford a large permanent workforce to address these challenges. Subsequently, companies are expanding their temporary workforce and extending their workforce boundaries into the university environment. The University of Massachusetts Lowell will discuss its efforts in being a part of this workforce. It will include an overview of the tools, expertise, and infrastructure in place for designing, developing and prototyping materials, devices, and systems to support companies in this environment