The Internet of Things Collaborative (IOTC) is a partnership between Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University to ​drive transdisciplinary research, education and innovation in IoT to spur economic transformation in order to improve the quality of life for residents of Greater Cleveland. The ​IOTC was created in 2017, and the Cleveland Foundation has awarded a $3.1 million 2-year grant to the Collaborative for 2020-2022, totaling support to more than $7 million over 6 years.

The collaborative has enabled recruitment of new faculty experts in IoT. Funding has set the basis for possible robust collaborations in labs and classrooms, and offers opportunities for partnerships with industry, city governments and nonprofits, while securing $13 million in federal funding (with over $40 million in IOTC proposals pending review at federal agencies).

Because of this funding, two hubs have been developed: an ‘Industry+Technology’ hub, emphasizing high-growth areas of smart manufacturing and connected health; and a ‘Community+Technology’ hub, building research, education and engagement in public interest technology. Central to the development of the two hubs is the concept of a multidisciplinary approach to IoT related research and projects. Through the support of the grant, a new university-wide center (the CSU T.E.C.H. Hub) has been created at CSU and led by faculty from multiple disciplines (Dr. Patricia Stoddard-Dare​, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Dr. Sathish Kumar​, Washkewicz College of Engineering; Dr. Nicholas Zingale​, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs).  The faculty leaders work in close collaboration with Shilpa Kedar, co-Executive Director for the IOTC at CSU.  

For addiitonal details of the HUB and collaboration click here.