grandpa J
02-21-2004, 07:17 AM
[img- WYFF TheCarolinaChannel.com to My Yahoo!
Michelin says it will invest $3 million over five years to become a partner in Clemson University's automotive research park in Greenville. Michelin said it will endow a professorship at the new park and is working with Clemson to find matching public and private funds to increase the total endowment, possibly doubling it.
"Hopefully our brand image will help a little bit, but we expect to gain fair value out of the relationship. We are going to improve and speed up some of our own innovation through the relationship," Jim Micali, Michelin North American chairman, told WYFF News 4's Beth Brotherton
Michelin will also donate an unspecified amount of money for staff, supplies and equipment. Clemson President James Barker said the contribution is a statement of confidence in the quality education Clemson provides.
"Companies in many ways think of themselves as brands. Great brands like Michelin don't associate with universities that are not going to elevate their brand recognition, their brand quality, their brand status," Barker said. "You look at the names that are beginning to gel around this I-CAR phenomenon, IBM, BMW, Michelin, you are looking at world-class names with a global presence." Michelin officials said the investment will allow the company to improve the performance and efficiency of its tires.
"Today's vehicles are being equipped with an increasing number of electronic systems, controlling everything from engine emission to anti-lock break systems. We believe the tires of the future will need to interact with that," Michelin's Terry Gettys said. Paying for the professorship also gives Michelin a voice on the center's proposed advisory board. The auto park will be built on 400 acres along Interstate 85 in Greenville
[/img]
Michelin says it will invest $3 million over five years to become a partner in Clemson University's automotive research park in Greenville. Michelin said it will endow a professorship at the new park and is working with Clemson to find matching public and private funds to increase the total endowment, possibly doubling it.
"Hopefully our brand image will help a little bit, but we expect to gain fair value out of the relationship. We are going to improve and speed up some of our own innovation through the relationship," Jim Micali, Michelin North American chairman, told WYFF News 4's Beth Brotherton
Michelin will also donate an unspecified amount of money for staff, supplies and equipment. Clemson President James Barker said the contribution is a statement of confidence in the quality education Clemson provides.
"Companies in many ways think of themselves as brands. Great brands like Michelin don't associate with universities that are not going to elevate their brand recognition, their brand quality, their brand status," Barker said. "You look at the names that are beginning to gel around this I-CAR phenomenon, IBM, BMW, Michelin, you are looking at world-class names with a global presence." Michelin officials said the investment will allow the company to improve the performance and efficiency of its tires.
"Today's vehicles are being equipped with an increasing number of electronic systems, controlling everything from engine emission to anti-lock break systems. We believe the tires of the future will need to interact with that," Michelin's Terry Gettys said. Paying for the professorship also gives Michelin a voice on the center's proposed advisory board. The auto park will be built on 400 acres along Interstate 85 in Greenville
[/img]