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TheCityofMasoncelebratesInnovationNightaspartof
MasonInnovationWeek,PresentedbyFesto,October27
Live flyingbionictechnologydemonstrationssymbolic ofCity’scommitmenttopublic-privatepartnershipsasbothpathwayto strongeconomy andcollaborativecommunity education
(Mason, OH–October26,2015)Beginning Monday, October26the City ofMasoncelebratesMason InnovationWeek,an event presented byglobalautomation technologyleader Festo as itsgiftto theCityforitsBicentennial celebration.Throughouttheweek,Festo’sBionicLearning Networkrepresentativeswill demonstratetheirbio-inspiredroboticanimals,the SmartBird andBionicOpterto areaelementary,high schooland collegestudentsandtheMasoncorporatecommunity.
The Week’seventsdemonstratehowuniquepublic-privatepartnershipscan advancecommunityeducationandpromotescience,technology,engineering andmathematics(STEM)programming. Asa partner,Festobringsworldwideleadership in automationtechnology andindustrialtraining,significantlyenhancing theCity’sgrowingbioscienceandtechnologysector.
“Mason InnovationWeekis a concept developed in closepartnershipwith Festo.Inall ofoureconomicdevelopmentefforts,werecognizea bigpart ofour successisour abilitytoattractandretainbusinesspartnerswho arealigned withmaking educationa communitypriority,particularlyas it relatesto STEMprogramming,”saidCityofMason MayorDavidF. Nichols.“Innovation Week is anopportunitytoshowcasehowour partnership with Festo,our localschooldistricts and highereducation partnershasbroughtbenefitsbeyondeconomicdevelopment, todirectlysupportthecommunity,education andtalent development.”
Yannick Schilly,VPOperations andCOOof Festo Corp,mirroredthemayor’sstatement,“Our partnership with theCityenables ustonotonlyexpand andgrowwithinour own company,butallowsus andour BionicLearning Networktoreachouttothecommunitytodemonstratehowprinciples fromnatureprovideinspiration fortechnical applicationsand futuretechnology.Andmostimportantly,thesebionicprojectshelp inspireand enthuseyoungpeopletotake aninterestin technologyandSTEMfields.”
Festo’sroboticanimals areengineering marvelsthatdemonstratehowbiomimicryinspiresadvancedautomationtechnology.Inspiredbytheherring gull,Festo’sSmartBird withawing-span oftwo metersandweighing approximatelyone pound can start,flyand land autonomously.Weighing about sixounces,Festo’sBionicOpter ismodeledafter thedragonfly.Thisultra-lightweightflying roboticanimalcan masterthe flightcapabilitiesof a helicopter,airplaneandglidercombined.
For additionalinformationaboutMasonInnovationWeek,Festo’sroboticanimals and Festo’sBionicLearning Networkvisit
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Aboutthe CityofMason,Ohio
Mason,Ohiois anestablishedhub for bioscienceinnovation andincludes abusinessportfolio of advancedmanufacturing,healthcareand technologycompanies.As thelargestcityin WarrenCounty andpartoftheGreaterCincinnati region insouthwestOhio,Mason’seconomicdevelopmentmission isfocusedon attracting andsupportingthe growthof top companiesand creating jobs in thesesectors,whileleveragingpartnershipstoalsoattractforeigndirect investment.Rankedthe seventhbestplacetolivebyCNN/Money Magazine in 2013 and17thin 2015,Mason isnationallyrecognized foritslowcostof living,award-winning schoolsand itsintentionalcultureofwellness.
AboutFesto
Festo is a leading manufacturer ofpneumaticand electromechanicalsystems,components,and controlsforprocess andindustrial automation.Formore than40years, Festo Corporation hascontinuouslyelevated thestateofmanufacturingwith innovations andoptimizedmotioncontrolsolutionsthatdeliverhigherperforming,moreprofitableautomatedmanufacturing andprocessing equipment.
Connectwith Festo:Facebook,LinkedIn,TwitterandYouTube