About Us

Founded in 2016, the center is designed to help bridge the skills gap in the nation’s $1.7 trillion manufacturing industry, and serve as a home for academically derived technology incubators, with particular focus on high ­precision machining, light materials, flexible electronics and ‘Industry 4.0’. The Olson Center introduces students to innovative manufacturing technologies and allows visualization of manufacturing concepts to complement the skills learned in traditional classroom settings. It helps serve as a pipeline for trained, skilled workers who will be able to successfully step into the state’s manufacturing sector with practical knowledge and experience.