The expansion of Endress+Hauser's U.S. headquarters and Innovation Center in Greenwood, Indiana, marks another milestone in the company's growing partnership with Purdue University's Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing STEM education, workforce development and the future talent pipeline.
The partnership began in 2022 with a shared vision: to create an innovative learning environment where K-12 students and educators could experience advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies in an authentic industry setting. Together, Endress+Hauser and Purdue IN-MaC launched the company's first Design & Innovation Studio, establishing a new model for connecting education with industry through hands-on experiences in robotics, engineering, coding, additive manufacturing, automation and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Three years later, that vision continues to grow.
As part of the inauguration of Endress+Hauser's new Innovation Center in Greenwood, the company unveiled a dedicated 3,000-square-foot Design & Innovation Studio devoted entirely to STEM education and workforce development. The expanded space hosts K-12 student field trips, educator professional development, community engagement activities and immersive learning experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
Since its opening, the Greenwood Design & Innovation Studio has welcomed more than 3,000 local students, providing opportunities to explore emerging technologies and raising awareness of careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, automation and technology.
Building on the success of the original collaboration, Endress+Hauser has continued to expand the Design & Innovation Studio model beyond Indiana by establishing an additional studio at its Philadelphia-area campus. Together, these spaces reflect the company's long-term commitment to developing future talent and demonstrate how industry can scale workforce development initiatives across multiple locations.
"We are so thankful for the initial collaboration and partnership from Purdue University for the Design & Innovation Studio," said Nicole Otte, director of workforce development at Endress+Hauser. "It has been transformational for bringing us a full continuum of future talent initiatives. Beyond the benefits to local students and educators, the space has also been a wonderful way to incorporate our team members into the culture of giving back and making a difference in our community's future workforce."
The Design & Innovation Studio has become a cornerstone of Endress+Hauser's workforce development strategy, demonstrating how industry can play an active role in preparing future generations while strengthening local communities.
"We are thrilled to expand our roots and footprint in Greenwood, the community we have been a part of for almost 50 years," said Todd Lucey, General Manager of Endress+Hauser USA. "Our continued investments showcase our commitment to Johnson County, our dedicated employees and our valued customers."
For Purdue IN-MaC, the continued growth of the partnership demonstrates the value of creating authentic learning experiences that connect education with industry.
"Research shows that career aspirations begin forming long before students make career decisions," said Dr. Sascha Harrell, director of education and workforce development for Purdue IN-MaC. "Preparing the future workforce means starting earlier and recognizing educators as the first career influencers students encounter. When teachers are equipped with authentic industry experiences and students engage with emerging technologies alongside professionals, curiosity becomes confidence, and classroom learning becomes connected to future opportunity. The Endress+Hauser Design & Innovation Studio demonstrates how partnerships between education and industry can create that connection while strengthening Indiana's future workforce."
The partnership between Endress+Hauser and Purdue IN-MaC extends beyond physical learning environments. Together, the organizations continue to engage students, educators and communities through career awareness experiences, professional development and workforce initiatives that strengthen connections between education and industry and prepare learners for careers in a rapidly evolving economy.
What began as a single Design & Innovation Studio has evolved into a scalable model for connecting education and industry. As Endress+Hauser continues to expand its operations, the partnership with Purdue IN-MaC demonstrates how long-term investments in STEM education can strengthen local communities while building the future workforce.
About the Endress+Hauser Design & Innovation Studio
Established in 2022 through a partnership between Endress+Hauser and Purdue University's Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), the Design & Innovation Studio model provides students and educators with authentic, hands-on experiences in robotics, engineering, automation, coding, additive manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
The flagship 3,000-square-foot Design & Innovation Studio at Endress+Hauser's Innovation Center in Greenwood, Indiana, serves as a hub for K-12 student field trips, educator professional development, and community engagement. Since opening, it has welcomed more than 3,000 local students. Building on the success of the original collaboration, Endress+Hauser has expanded the Design & Innovation Studio model to its Philadelphia-area campus, demonstrating the scalability and impact of industry-led STEM education partnerships.
About Purdue IN-MaC
The Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC), housed within Purdue Polytechnic Institute, serves as a statewide catalyst for STEM education, workforce development, and industry engagement. Through strategic partnerships with K-12 schools, industry, higher education, and STEM Education Works, Purdue IN-MaC develops and supports Design & Innovation Studios that provide students and educators with authentic, hands-on STEM experiences connected to high-demand careers.
The Purdue IN-MaC Design & Innovation Studio model integrates emerging technologies, standards-aligned curriculum, educator professional development, and industry engagement to help students build the technical and durable skills needed for success in advanced manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, information technology, and other critical workforce sectors.
As a constituent center in the School of Engineering Technology in Purdue Polytechnic (Purdue University's college for technology), IN-MaC more widely approaches the challenges of preparing the future workforce through three key areas: 1) education and workforce development to transform today's manufacturing operations employees and to build the talent pipeline; 2) technology adoption and demonstration to enhance competitiveness of Indiana manufacturing companies by supporting implementation and integration of technology and methods; and 3) manufacturing research and prototyping services via the intelligent manufacturing testbed.
Since 2019, Purdue IN-MaC has supported the implementation of more than 100 Design & Innovation Studios across schools, industry sites, universities, and community organizations, impacting more than 40,000 students and supporting hundreds of educators. By connecting education with industry through innovative learning environments, Purdue IN-MaC is helping strengthen Indiana's talent pipeline while preparing the next generation of innovators, engineers, and problem-solvers.
Media Contact
Dr. Sascha Harrell
Director of Education and Workforce Development
Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC)
Purdue Polytechnic Institute
Purdue University
smharrel@purdue.edu
