Partner Spotlight Newswire Stories

An Iowa State University micro-credential workgroup has spent the past several months building a foundation for the micro-credential program in preparation for a rollout in summer or fall 2025. Led by Tanya Austin, professional development and micro-credential program specialist at the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), the workgroup established processes and standards … Continue reading Iowa State Prepares for Micro-credential Program Launch

Student interest in internships at Stellar Industries is rising thanks to the company’s work with CIRAS and Iowa State University’s Engineering Career Services (ECS). The three entities have been collaborating on strategies to enhance awareness of internship opportunities, and their efforts are paying off. Stellar Industries, headquartered in Garner, manufactures service trucks, cranes, hook lifts, … Continue reading Partnership with CIRAS, Career Services Pays Off

When a food industry client of Multi Packaging and Printing was having trouble with bags of cheese bursting, the Newton-based company turned to CIRAS, which had the perfect resource to address the problem: the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium (PFPC). Some Multi Packaging and Printing bags burst after being filled with cheese, sealed, and dropped … Continue reading CIRAS Partner Provides Industry Access to Premier Packaging Expertise

Nearly 450 people attended the 2024 Business Analytics Symposium, held on April 2 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Des Moines. The annual event is hosted by the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business. Iowa’s premier analytics event brought together industry leaders and analytics professionals from some of the nation’s leading … Continue reading Annual Business Analytics Symposium draws big crowd in Des Moines

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) offers a program specific to small business contractors where small businesses compete against each other and not against large contractors. This program, separate from the DBE Certification, is called the Small Business Development Contracts Program. To be eligible for this, a small business must become a Certified Small Business Contractor … Continue reading Did You Know? Small Business Development Contracts Program  

The CIRAS Digital Manufacturing Lab powered by Alliant Energy recently added two new partners, Pratum, an information security company, and ProPlanner, specialists in tools for complex assembly manufacturing. “Partnerships are key to our efforts to de–risk technology adoption for Iowa companies,” said Chris Hill, CIRAS program director. “Our technology partners play a key part in … Continue reading Digital Lab Expands Partnerships

The Polymer and Food Protection Consortium (PFPC) recently shifted its packaging processing function to the Biocentury Research Farm near Boone, having outgrown its original facilities on the Iowa State campus. The larger space will enable PFPC to continue expanding its services in food safety research to support companies.  With initial and ongoing support from CIRAS, … Continue reading Iowa State’s Polymer and Food Protection Consortium Is on the Move

Interns at ALMACO get much more than an overview of the company’s custom-built agricultural equipment. They become part of the team.

Brian Carr, ALMACO’s vice president of engineering, said student employees at the Nevada-based company get directly involved in completing projects—from initial design, through problem-solving challenges, to the eventual result.

 “We ask them to participate in every aspect of the development of a product,” Carr said. “It’s all collaborative engineering, and they’re just one more voice in the game.”

One key step toward making Iowa buildings more energy efficient is to place them into the hands of people who know how to find savings. Toward that end, two CIRAS partners have joined forces to help Iowa companies interested in reducing their energy costs.

Nathan Meyer was no stranger to CIRAS, but he wasn’t fully aware of all the technical expertise available at Iowa State University until he took a CIRAS-led tour of campus research labs in the fall of 2017.

Government contracting is a byzantine business—a long and plodding trek through a jungle filled with complicated regulation, documentation requirements, and new marketing challenges.

Sound impossible? Not if you have help.

CIRAS’ top two administrators have been honored by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) for their work trumpeting Iowa manufacturing.

CIRAS Director Ron Cox and program director Mike O’Donnell, head of CIRAS’ Manufacturing Extension Partnership, jointly received ABI’s Manufacturing Champion Award at a dinner for Iowa business leaders on Tuesday.

If you find yourself wondering “what’s next” for Iowa manufacturers, make sure you attend the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Advanced Manufacturing Conference on September 20. 

Continuing our sustainability theme in line with Earth Day on April 22, today, we’re highlighting one of our newest partners, the Iowa Sustainable Business Forum (ISBF).

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) offers a variety of programs and services to individuals, communities and businesses to attract and grow business, employment and workforce in Iowa.  One of these programs is Iowa’s Targeted Small Business (TSB) program, which is designed to help women, individuals with minority status, service-connected disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities overcome some hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa. 

You hear the phrase “learn how the sausage gets made” all the time. But what if you actually want to know how sausage is made? Well, we happen to have one of the world leaders on that very subject here at Iowa State University.