Autodesk Inc. has donated $21.7 million worth of software to Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, marking the largest gift ever to Penn State Erie. It's also the first time Autodesk, of San Rafael, Calif., has provided full access of its top products through an in-kind grant to a college or university.
Students gain access to three main suites of software: Simulation Moldflow, for plastic injection molding; Education Master Suite, which includes three-dimensional computer-aided design and engineering analysis tools; and Entertainment Creation Suite, which Autodesk said was used to animate the last 17 films that won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
With access to Moldflow simulation software, students in Penn State Erie's plastics engineering program will have an opportunity to obtain Moldflow certification. Penn State Erie officials also plan to integrate the Autodesk technology into the school's elementary education outreach program.
“Partnering with Penn State Behrend allows us to put sophisticated simulation software into the hands of future engineers, scientists and artists,” said Tom Cameron, vice president of manufacturing sales at Autodesk. “This significant partnership reinforces our commitment to providing students and educators with the resources they need to inspire the next generation of professionals.”
