As part of a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between academia and industry, AspenTech’s Academic Program team recently partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to equip chemical engineering students with practical skills and knowledge in digital technology, specifically in Aspen Unified PIMS^™, the industry’s leading production planning optimization solution.

“We want universities to incorporate software solutions like Aspen Unified PIMS as part of their curriculum, empowering students to excel in today's competitive job market and be industry-ready as they enter the workforce,” said Sri Valluri, Director of the Customer Competency Program at AspenTech.

The effort materialized when Henry Potter, a solution consultant at AspenTech, saw an opportunity at his alma mater, UW-Madison, to introduce digital solutions into the chemical engineering curriculum. “Many think of AspenTech as only a simulation software company, but I wanted to let them know about the range of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that AspenTech can provide,” said Potter. “I remember wishing that I had been exposed to feedstock optimization tools in my undergraduate studies.”

While attending UW-Madison, Henry was a student of chemical engineering Professor William Banholzer. He was confident his former teacher was the ideal partner to help make the integration a reality. As the former chief technology officer at Dow, Banholzer set and executed the company’s vision for science and technology. He has a strong history of technical excellence and innovation and believes that combining theory and practice provides students with a more well-rounded education. These beliefs aligned perfectly with the mission of the AspenTech Academic Program.

“While we can lecture on these abstract ideas, there is no substitute for hands-on experience,” Banholzer explains. “Exposing students to these concepts early on and replicating the complexities of supply chains and plant operations as part of their curriculum is a real value add.”

Indeed, integrating Aspen Unified PIMS into the curriculum was a big success as students gained valuable insights into the commercial aspects of a manufacturing plant and saw firsthand how Industrial AI-driven solutions can help facilitate greater understanding of complex industrial systems.

“The UW-Madison collaboration exemplifies how AspenTech solutions can help prepare students for future careers by merging academic knowledge with real-world applications,” Potter added.