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The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) recently announced Mazda North American Operations, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., will be the first Asian Original Equipment Manufacturer to partner with CU-ICAR.
Robert Davis of Mazda and Esin Gulari of ClemsonThe announcement was made at the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center on the CU-ICAR campus with Mazda representatives. The Mazda Foundation will provide an initial pledge of $30,000 to CU-ICAR for the Mazda Annual Graduate Fellowships program. The fellowships are performance-based and renewable for up to three years for a potential total of $90,000. In addition, the company will donate a CX-7 crossover SUV, drive trains, sub-assemblies and other components to be used as learning tools by Clemson students and faculty. �We are delighted to welcome Mazda to CU-ICAR,� said Esin Gulari, dean of the College of Engineering and Science at Clemson. �The strength and visibility of the Mazda brand worldwide makes this a key partnership, and we look forward to having our students interact and learn from this automotive leader. This connection with Mazda will open many doors for them as they continue into their careers. The fellowships are critical to the success of our program and the availability of Mazda automotive products for real-world study is invaluable. We look forward to a long and productive relationship.� Esin GulariAs part of the agreement, three $10,000 fellowships will be provided to graduate students majoring in automotive engineering through the department of mechanical engineering within the College of Engineering and Science. �We are thrilled to affiliate with this dynamic new research facility with support from both the Mazda Foundation and Mazda North American Operations. The work that the CU-ICAR graduate students undertake now will lay the foundation for groundbreaking advancements in the automotive industry in the future,� said Robert Davis, senior vice president, Product Development and Quality, for Mazda North American Operations and a 1985 Clemson graduate. Known for creating cars that are stylish, insightful and spirited, as well as affordable and fun to drive, Mazda infuses the �soul of a sports car� into every vehicle it builds, Davis said. Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts, accessories and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada Inc., located in Ontario, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de M�xico in Mexico City. Robert Davis As the corporate foundation of Mazda North American Operations, the Mazda Foundation has awarded nearly $6 million to worthwhile causes across the United States since its inception and initial awards in 1992. Reflecting Mazda�s commitment to youth and education, the new fellowship program at CU-ICAR joins several other college scholarship programs sponsored by the Mazda Foundation. These include scholarship programs at Dillard University and University of North Carolina at Pembroke as well as a scholarship program funded through the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. CU-ICAR is a new model for economic development in South Carolina, matching Clemson�s strengths in automotive engineering with the state�s strong automotive economic cluster. Located in the heart of the Interstate 85 corridor, midway between Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta, Ga., CU-ICAR is ideally situated in the Southeastern automotive and motorsports economy. CU-ICAR is a 250-acre �technopolis� where BMW, Michelin, Timken, Sun Microsystems and other corporate partners are joining with Clemson to focus on automotive research and other transportation and advanced-manufacturing issues. The state of South Carolina also is a key partner, having created legislation to support economic development and innovation. For example, the Research Centers of Economic Excellence Endowed Chairs Program matches private funding to recruit top faculty. CU-ICAR has four endowed chairs created through the program. Three of these chairs, along with five junior faculty positions, have been filled. These faculty members, along with other faculty from the main campus, form the academic team for one of the nation�s most exceptional master�s and doctoral degree programs in automotive engineering. The doctoral program is one of the first in the country. (Image provided by Clemson University.)
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