ProPEL and CEAS Collaborate with Industry to Advance Education and Research

The

UC-Festo Bionic Learning Showcase

hosted by the

College of Engineering and Applied Science

(CEAS), highlighted another successful UC collaboration with industry to advance education and research.  

Festo is a global leader in automation technology, and the world market leader in industrial training and education. Festo’s pneumatic and electric drive technology stands for innovation in industrial and process automation – from individual products to ready-to-install solutions.

The event featured two groundbreaking projects of Festo’s

Bionic Learning Network

– the SmartBird and the BionicOpter. Recognized internationally as inspiration for major advancement in energy efficiency and lightweight design for automation, these ultralight, aerodynamic bionic robots provided visitors with a glimpse into the manufacturing automation possibilities of the future.

In addition, the event showcased Festo/Didactic, CEAS and UC ProPEL (

Division of Professional Practice and Experiential Learning

) as strong partners which support STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), promote professional talent and advance communitywide collaboration among businesses.

Carolin McCaffrey, chief liaison officer for Festo Greater Cincinnati, USA, represented Festo at the showcase. McCaffrey believes that in the era of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT – also known as Industry 4.0), ever changing technology cannot be implemented without a trained workforce.  

“Re-establishing manufacturing as a recognized career choice for young talent and contributing to the renaissance of manufacturing is our goal, stated McCaffrey. “Through strategic partnerships such as this we strive to provide an environment where education, business and community partners can come together in the spirit of collaboration, synergy and growth opportunities focusing on technological innovation.”

Festo at a glance

Festo’s hallmarks include a global presence and improving customer productivity through close, long-term partnerships. With over 300,000 customers globally in over 200 industry sectors and 16,800 employees worldwide in 61 national companies, Festo’s sales for 2014 were 2.34 billion Euros. This year, the third generation family-owned company celebrates the 90th anniversary of the company’s founding, and 43 years in the U.S.

About Festo’s Bionic Learning Network

Learning from nature: In Festo’s Bionic Learning Network, a cooperation between Festo and renowned universities and development companies, principles from nature provide inspiration for technical applications and industrial practice. As technological leader and a learning company, Festo’s objectives for the Bionic Learning Network go well beyond developing new technologies: to motivate, inspire and enthuse and to kick-start innovation. Thus, Festo becomes a development partner and a driving force for customer innovations. With its bionic projects Festo demonstrates the solution expertise in a way that will inspire young people to take an interest in technology and helps us to discover new talent.

About ProPEL

ProPEL (the Division of Professional Practice and Experiential Learning) is an integrated hub of experiential learning programs at the University of Cincinnati, including cooperative education, academic internships and pre-health internships, service learning, undergraduate research, and transdisciplinary industry collaborations (UC Forward). Faculty-led instruction and advising integrates classroom theory to real-world practice through hands-on experience and reflection.