The University of Houston recently announced a new collaboration with Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE), which includes a $10 million gift from HPE to the university. This gift, and the ongoing partnership, will help UH develop enhanced data science tools to address challenges in the healthcare, energy and smart materials sectors in the Houston area.
Russ Capper, HX’s Executive Director, talks with UH President Renu Khator the day of the UH/HPE announcement.
Specifically, UH will use the gift to benefit its Data Science Institute. It will fund a scholarship endowment as well as provide equipment and resources to enhance data science research initiatives. The collaboration will also incorporate HPE technology leaders to serve as lecturers for UH classes, while UH researchers will contribute solutions to complex problems for HPE customers.
The UH Data Science Institute will be renamed the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Data Science Institute (HPE DSI) in recognition of this alliance.
“The enhanced educational opportunities available to UH students through this gift will translate to increased student engagement and a better prepared workforce,” said Paula Myrick Short, UH’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
Collaborations like this are part of a greater movement within Houston to accelerate the city’s development of a burgeoning innovation economy. Houston Exponential (HX), an organization committed to serving, organizing and championing the local innovation ecosystem, is leading the charge in this development—and sees elevating the city to a leading position in data sciences as a critical part of the plan.
“HPE’s commitment to this program at UH is exciting for Houston,” said Gina Luca, chair of HX. “This partnership, along with many others, is essential to accelerating our progress as a global leader” in digital and data sciences.
Read more about innovation initiatives in the greater Houston area at houstonexponential.org.
