Within a few years, the students working in university laboratories will be making purchasing decisions for their employers. Tomorrow's leading engineers and engineering managers are being trained in today's university labs. Soon they will be seeking employment and are more likely to go to work for a company with a familiar name.
Employees are proud to work for a company that supports engineering education.
Customers feel good about purchasing from a company that supports engineering education. When industries implement ideas and techniques developed at a university, they often choose to purchase the same model equipment that was used at the university. University researchers are generally very proud of their equipment and very grateful to have it. Companies about to make a major equipment or software purchase sometimes seek advice from university researchers who are familiar with the product. They are frequently visited by representatives from industry and government development labs.