USC opens new digital research lab.

• Position: University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina opened a new 15,000-square-foot Digital Transformation Lab today. The research facility, part of the university's Innovista research district, displays industrial and consumer applications of everything from autonomous drones to smart home appliances.

USC also announced the expansion of several corporate partnerships, including an agreement with IBM for a new Industrial Internet of Things Research Lab.

"These research partnerships and the new lab are the culmination of years of innovative work by our faculty researchers and the USC Office of Economic Engagement," USC president Harris Pastides said in a news release. "Through corporate partnerships, our researchers can bring added value to industrial applications while students work alongside faculty to gain critical exposure to leading-edge technologies that make them more employable."

The Internet of Things research lab, to be located in the McNair Aerospace Research Center, will use cloud-based data to develop learning, teaching and research projects employing advanced analytics and artificial intelligence.

Other partnerships announced include:

USC is working with Samsung as part of the Palmetto Consortium for Home Appliance Innovation, a project...