DSU Receives $300,000 Grant from InterDigital Inc.

Delaware State University today announced the award of a $300,000 grant to its College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology (CMNST) from InterDigital, Inc., a Wilmington-based wireless technology solutions company.

DSU President Harry L. Williams made the announcement of the new public-private partnership during a media event attended by InterDigital CEO William Merritt, Gov. Jack Markell, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and others.

Dr. Williams said that the University is grateful for InterDigital’s financial support and its commitment to help DSU expand it science laboratory capabilities.

“InterDigital’s support assists DSU in fulfilling its core value of Scholarship as well as in its Strategic Plan goals that relate to providing exceptional learning environments, achieving the top notch preparation of our students, and the expansion of DSU’s scholarly and creative research capacity,” Dr. Williams said. “Because we are a state institution of higher education, InterDigital’s support of DSU also helps the State of Delaware be all it can be.”

Gov. Markell noted that a lot of companies talk about the importance of higher education, but InterDigital has taken that a big step farther.

“When you see a company like InterDigital put its money where its mouth is and step up to support DSU, this is how you build an economy,” Gov. Markell said. “We have long felt that the best way to build strong economy is to focus on innovation and workforce development, and institutions like DSU are in the center of that and so are companies like InterDigital. This is the kind of investment that will pay dividend for years to come.”

Sen. Carper said that InterDigital is making a worthwhile investment in DSU research.

“DSU is well on its way to becoming a research hub in the state, and I'm incredibly proud of the strides it has made under Dr. Melikechi and President Williams,” he said.

According to Dr. Noureddine Melikechi, dean of the CMNST, the grant funding will be used to establish three new laboratories in the University’s Mishoe Science Center:

• A digital and analog electronics laboratory
• A wireless communications, signal processing and controls laboratory
• An advanced micro-controller design lab.

“These new teaching laboratories will allow us to better prepare our undergraduate students in fields that are critical in many aspects of their education and growth,” said Dr. Melikechi, who is also DSU’s vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development. “In addition, thanks to this grant, we will be in a better position to serve the high technology companies in our region.”

William Merritt, CEO of InterDigital, said he views DSU as a good source for future technology professionals.

“As one of the leading American companies in the field of wireless technologies, we at InterDigital depend on the work being done here at DSU and in universities across the nation to prepare young people for careers in STEM fields,” Mr. Merritt said. “We are very pleased to be a part of the Delaware State University College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology team on a new mission to the future – a mission to ensure that our young people are well equipped to be the researchers, engineers and business leaders our economy needs.”

David G. Turner, chairman of the DSU Board of Trustees, said that InterDigital support of DSU fits in while with two major university priorities – student success and sustainability.

“Students success includes getting our students graduated within four years and then for them to get a job within their major,” Mr. Turner said. “Sustainability revolves around economic job growth, economic development, and the building of public-private partnerships that enable DSU to be a strong player in the overall growth of the state. I believe that this partnership between InterDigital and DSU are the first of many to come.”

About InterDigital^®

InterDigital develops technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks and services worldwide. The company solves many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on NASDAQ and is included in the S&P MidCap 400^® index.

For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com.