The Dow Chemical Company has partnered with the University to open the Dow Innovation Center. The new research facility, which will be located in Research Park, will focus on the development of data management to improve the Research & Development organization within the Dow Chemical Company.

“We are pushing the edges of science and technology to explore new ideas in critical areas such as water, energy, coatings and agriculture,” Chancellor Phyllis Wise said in the press release. “The new center will draw upon the strengths in High Performance Computing (HPC), Informatics, and Computer Science at the University of Illinois to enhance technology and research within Dow.”

The new Dow Innovation Center will employ sixteen University students part-time from Computer Science and related fields, connecting students with researchers and industry professionals.

“This environment will provide students the opportunity to enhance their University of Illinois education with real-life experiences that impact industry and address major global product solutions,” said the University’s Vice President for research Lawrence Schook in the press release.

The University is part of the Strategic University Partnership launched by Dow in 2011 to promote research.