Omron donates $1M to help University of Michigan-Deaborn establish advanced engineering lab

May 4, 2018
The Robotics and Human Factors Lab, which is expected to be complete in 2020, will be used for advanced engineering education

Omron Foundation has announced a gift of $1 million to the University of Michigan-Dearborn for the establishment of a brand-new laboratory inside the university’s Engineering Lab Building (ELB), a $90 million project expected to be complete in 2020. The new Omron Robotics and Human Factors Lab will provide UM-Dearborn students with a comprehensive engineering education.

Omron Foundation coordinates the charitable efforts of all US-based offices of the Omron Corporation.

The university’s new ELB will aim to combine teaching labs with modern classrooms to cultivate entrepreneurial problem-solving skills as well as technological expertise.

“Through Omron Foundation, we are delighted to have the opportunity to support this amazing innovation investment at University of Michigan-Dearborn," said Nigel Blakeway, Omron Americas Corporation CEO and Omron Foundation president. "With the vision and talented research teams ever evolving at UM-Dearborn, we are committed to not just this engineering lab, but the scholarship programs to support future generations of engineers, fortunate enough to study in this impressive new environment,” 

In addition to the $1 million gift, the Omron Foundation also announced a new scholarship for UM-Dearborn electrical engineering students. This is the Omron Foundation’s 8th endowed scholarship in electrical engineering with prior endowments established at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Kettering University, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Southern Illinois University, University of Houston, and the University of Illinois at Champaign.