The Vermeer company in Pella is opening an office in the Iowa State University Research Park in Ames in hopes of increasing its connection to the school. Research park director, Steve Carter, says the office for the equipment manufacturer will have 14 employees and focus on a couple of things.
He says it will collaborate with the university to come up with innovations in products and new products. Carter the company recruits a lot of engineering students and they feel having an office close by allows them to “get those young folks engaged with Vermeer, earlier and longer.” Carter says the office on campus is a big bonus in the competition for the best students.
He says it does give companies a “significant” advantage because he says developing research collaborations and building relationships with students takes time, exposure and interaction. Carter hopes other businesses will follow Vermeer’s lead and look to create offices near the university.
Carter says he hopes what Vermeer is doing is a model for other Iowa corporations as a means to connect with the university. Carter says the new office will give Vermeer access to students for internships and to researchers as it looks to move ahead with product improvement and development.