“With gratitude and excitement, I accept CCAT’s invitation to become the School of Computing and Engineering’s man in the arena of digital transformation within the context of engineering,” Reap said. “The technological changes precipitating the fellowship program increasingly impact the professional lives of Quinnipiac’s engineering students. CCAT’s award honors me with an opportunity to spend myself in the worthy cause of program renewal, renewal that enhances the school’s quality and our graduates’ competitiveness.” 

CCAT’s new program, set to begin Jan. 17, immerses nine college and university faculty members in advanced manufacturing technologies and industry 4.0 practices, with the goal of enhancing the integration of state-of-the-art methods, practices and tools currently used in industry into Connecticut classrooms.

As part of the Faculty Fellowship Program, fellows participate in Industry 4.0 technology training and then incorporate those methods and practices in unique and creative ways in the curriculum at their institutions. Fellows engage in curriculum development workshops to assist and support this effort.

“Professor Reap’s selection is a testament to his dedication to advancing both education and industry,” said Taskin Kocak, dean of the School of Computing and Engineering at Quinnipiac. “This opportunity not only recognizes his expertise, but also positions the School of Computing & Engineering to be at the forefront of teaching our students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the evolving landscape of advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0. We are proud of Professor Reap’s selection and the impact this fellowship will undoubtedly have on our programs and students.”

Industry 4.0 practice standards integrate smart technologies, such as IoT, AI, and automation, into manufacturing processes. They highlight the importance of model-based definition and design. They ensure seamless data exchange, improve efficiency and enable real-time decision-making. Standards emphasize interoperability, cybersecurity, and data management for optimized production and innovation across industries.

“The Office of Manufacturing and the Manufacturing Innovation Fund are focused on accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, with a focus on digital transformation, additive manufacturing, robotics, industrial automation, and artificial intelligence,” said ‍Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s chief manufacturing officer, when announcing the fellows. “The Faculty Fellowship program will provide our university professors with a robust knowledge of these technologies that they can integrate into their curriculum, leading to a better-educated workforce in Connecticut.”