MakerBot Becomes an Industry Partner of Florida Polytechnic University

A new era of innovation is coming to central Florida, and it is also an era of education, technology and entrepreneurship.

MakerBot, a global leader in desktop 3D printing, is very proud to become an industry partner of Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Florida, and to be part of its grand opening. As an industry partner of the University, MakerBot will have the opportunity to help shape the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. MakerBot will also be delivering its MakerBot^® Innovation Center to help Florida Poly build a Rapid Application Development (RAD) Makerspace that will empower students and faculty to innovate with more than 55 MakerBot 3D Printers and Scanners.

Florida Poly is the 12^th and newest member of the State University System of Florida and the only one dedicated exclusively to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It has been designed to be a hub of innovation, focusing on the core STEM disciplines of Engineering, Big Data Analytics and Computer Science, which the university sees as key to economic growth and prosperity in Florida and the nation. Florida Poly’s integrated STEM curriculum is a key feature attracting potential students and partners. As part of this commitment to innovation, the RAD Makerspace with MakerBot 3D Printers and Scanners will be the largest MakerBot Innovation Center in the nation and will house more MakerBot Replicator^® 3D Printers and MakerBot Digitizer™ Desktop 3D Scanners than any other university in the country.

Florida Poly will hold its grand opening LAUNCH Celebration on Saturday, August 16, welcoming students, parents, business partners and community members to tour the campus and its innovation labs including the RAD Makerspace.

The RAD Makerspace is housed in Florida Poly’s Innovation, Science and Technology Building, designed by world-renowned architect, engineer and polytechnic graduate, Dr. Santiago Calatrava. The 162,000 square-foot elliptical and space age looking structure serves as the primary classroom building and is also the epicenter for technology and innovation on campus. Its state-of-the-art labs equipped with the latest technology help make it an inspiring learning space. MakerBot is thrilled to be part of the university’s legacy of stimulating creativity and entrepreneurship through innovation.

“Having a RAD Makerspace on campus is providing the students, who will shape the future, with the technology they need to succeed today,” said Tom Hull, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Florida Polytechnic. “3D printing has many possible applications in various fields, and our RAD Makerspace will inspire students as they explore, discover, innovate and create. Florida Poly encourages research applicable to the real world, and 3D printing is at the center of the product iteration and technological innovation process. We are hoping that students will be attracted to Florida Poly in part because of our RAD Makerspace along with our modern, integrated curriculum.”

Florida Polytechnic University will welcome its inaugural class of 500 students this August and stands apart from other universities in many ways, from its cutting-edge architecture to its emphasis on industry-inspired courses and projects. Not only will the university provide students with access to the RAD Makerspace, its integrated, innovation-focused STEM curriculum will encourage students to experiment with the MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers and Scanners. The goal is to create an environment that fosters and stimulates innovation and entrepreneurship. MakerBot is excited to be part of this distinctive university’s beginnings and to witness the technological progress, learning and innovation that Florida Poly students are expected to generate.

As part of the MakerBot Innovation Center program in the Florida Poly RAD Makerspace, MakerBot will provide the university community with in-depth training on MakerBot 3D Printers and Scanners, as well as assist with curriculum development. The space will house an array of MakerBot products to suit almost every area of prototyping and design needs, and includes 40 MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D Printers, five MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printers, five MakerBot Replicator Z18 3D Printers, five MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printers and five MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanners.

“It’s so exciting to see an educational institution rethink the learning and innovation process and embrace technology that will, we believe, truly turn the students of today into the entrepreneurs and business leaders of tomorrow,” noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot and a former teacher. “With its near-infinite possibilities, Florida Poly’s RAD Makerspace will help create the model of what a university should offer to prospective students. A MakerBot Innovation Center or Makerspace such as this one, with every tool imaginable, will change the way students think about the world. I can’t wait to see what the Florida Poly students make.”

The RAD Makerspace created from a MakerBot Innovation Center will not only facilitate innovation and creation on campus, but Florida Poly hopes to extend their enthusiasm into the community with Maker Faires, inter-collegiate 3D printing events, guest lectures and open-community forums. As the largest MakerBot Innovation Center in the country, the RAD Makerspace aims to inspire, invigorate and innovate.