Purdue University Opens New 62,000-Square-Foot Institute

Accomplished engineer Dr. Jai N. Gupta founded EER Systems in 1979 and led the company until it was acquired by L-3 Communications in 2001. Prior to launching his career in the aerospace and defense industries, Dr. Jai N. Gupta received a PhD in electrical engineering from Purdue University. Today, he remains connected to his alma mater by supporting the school’s various endeavors.

Purdue University recently celebrated the opening of its new Indiana Manufacturing Institute, a $50-million facility that was built with the support of the Purdue Research Foundation and a US Department of Energy initiative. The 62,000-square-foot institute will house the Product Lifecycle Management Center, the Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center, and the Center for Composites Manufacturing and Simulation.

Among other things, the centers will provide a space for researchers and engineering graduate students to develop energy-efficient composite materials for use in the automotive, energy, and aerospace industries. A large portion of the institute will also be reserved for collaborative composite materials research between Purdue University and outside organizations.