{"id":"84924c7f-129f-4b1f-9555-fa840fab3466","slug":"niu-x-automationdirect-automation-laboratory","name":"NIU x AutomationDirect - Automation Laboratory","partnershipType":"development","status":"active","announcedDate":"2015-01-01T12:00:00.000Z","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"summary":"AutomationDirect donated 00,000 over four years to establish the AutomationDirect Automation Laboratory at NIU's Department of Technology, supporting PLC and automation courses and a term professorship.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.therobotreport.com/northern-illinois-university-partners-with-automationdirect-for-new-student-lab/","title":"Northern Illinois University partners with AutomationDirect for new student lab","sourceName":"The Robot Report"}],"verificationPosture":"verified","reviewStatus":"unreviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-20T13:05:25.218Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-20T13:05:25.218Z","parties":[{"id":"7e885ec5-0077-4e81-aae5-5b6633c56893","partnershipId":"84924c7f-129f-4b1f-9555-fa840fab3466","companyId":"96fe93f3-d6d8-45b7-8153-54220beb0228","externalName":null,"role":"co_developer","createdAt":"2026-08-20T13:05:25.633Z","company":{"id":"96fe93f3-d6d8-45b7-8153-54220beb0228","slug":"northern-illinois-university","name":"Northern Illinois University"}},{"id":"1908fe5f-8497-4ba4-9b18-729e0e7067fd","partnershipId":"84924c7f-129f-4b1f-9555-fa840fab3466","companyId":null,"externalName":"AutomationDirect","role":"technology_provider","createdAt":"2026-08-20T13:05:26.051Z","company":null}]}