NREC Has Transformational Economic Impact

The National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) -- an innovative model for academic-industry collaboration founded 25 years ago to catalyze robotics research, development and commercialization -- has dramatically transformed the Pittsburgh region, its economy and the robotics industry, says a report released by Carnegie Mellon University. "The impact of Carnegie Mellon's NREC has been game-changing, not just for igniting a thriving technology industry in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania but also for revolutionizing robotics and catalyzing its impact across the globe," said CMU President Farnam Jahanian. "As NREC marks its first 25 years and plans for the future, the report's findings reinforce what insiders have always known: NREC's innovations have transformed entire industries and are helping to solve some of humanity's greatest challenges." CMU collaborated with NASA, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the City of Pittsburgh, local foundations and other partners to create NREC. The center began with an initial investment of less than $10 million and has raised more than $500 million in total direct funding to date -- a remarkable 50 times the original investment.