Border States has partnered with the University of North Dakota’s College of Engineering & Mines and ECN Automation to launch the Automation Innovation Lab; a new educational hub aimed at closing the automation skills gap and preparing engineering students for the demands of modern industry.
The collaboration, backed by the Border States Foundation, opened this fall at UND’s Grand Forks campus. The lab provides students with access to industrial-grade equipment and software used in manufacturing environments, allowing them to gain firsthand experience in automation systems design, programming, and maintenance. The goal is to strengthen local talent pipelines as manufacturers in the Upper Midwest face growing pressure to modernize operations and find engineers trained to manage and optimize automated systems.
According to UND officials, the idea originated from discussions with local manufacturers who were struggling to find skilled engineers. Kevin Rusk, director of business development at UND’s College of Engineering and Mines, said the need became clear after the university convened a regional manufacturing council that brought together plant directors from leading companies in the state.
“The common thread was that if there was an automation device or system that needed repair, reprogramming or optimizing, there weren’t necessarily locally trained and talented engineers who could help establish and further automate some of their pieces of equipment,” Rusk said.
To bridge that gap, UND joined forces with Border States and ECN Automation to equip the new lab with the latest automation tools and systems. The partnership enables students to gain direct experience with the technologies driving digital transformation across the industrial sector.
“The idea began with a simple, yet powerful, goal to create a lab where a student could gain firsthand experience in industrial automation,” said ECN Automation CEO Arturo Freydig. “This setup gives students a unique opportunity to complement their education with practical experience, helping build early connections to the world of automation and preparing them for successful careers in the industry.”
Border States said the launch of the lab is only the first phase of a longer-term effort to strengthen workforce readiness in automation. “
UND leaders say the lab is already delivering on its mission to give students the experience needed to succeed in high-demand technical fields.
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