Innovation Think Tank Lab open at USC.

The University of South Carolina's Innovation Think Tank Lab, a collaboration with Siemens, is now open.

The lab, which joins Siemens Healthineers' global network, provides a space for researchers, faculty members and students to investigate issues in fields including health care, artificial intelligence and information technology, according to a news release. The lab, located in the first floor of the Tower Building at 1301 Gervais St., is led by adjunct professor Sultan Haider.

"Centers like this are so important because they bring technology and use it to create something new and do things differently," Elizabeth Regan, chair of integrated information technology at USC's College of Engineering and Computing, said in the release. "That involves opening your mind, moving yourself out of your comfort zone, innovative thinking and collaborating."

Computer science professor Neset Hikmet, who oversaw the lab's creation, said his vision for the lab includes workshops with participants from diverse academic backgrounds working with mentors to address pressing issue.

"These are all opportunities that have participants getting out of...