The grand opening of the $25 million Center for Applied Innovation on Thursday marked an expansion of the relationship between USC and IBM.
The center, located in the Innovista research district, focuses on "technology for a host of real-world applications," according to a press release on the opening. Some of the first projects conducted at the facility will touch on higher education, the efficiency of supply chains and aircraft safety.
President Harris Pastides praised the development for what it will bring to the university in the same release.
“This new center places the University squarely in the mix with some of tech’s hottest areas — cognitive and the Internet of Things,” Pastides said. “It also represents the potential for strong public private partnerships to advance our educational mission and significantly raise our research profile.”
The center was founded in 2014, and construction on the 110,000 square-foot structure began in February of 2015.
Fluor Corp. is also a partner and advisor in the center.