Autodesk Donates $4.3 Million to Cornell University to Prepare students for an AI-powered future
April 24, 2025 | AutodeskEstimated reading time: 3 minutes

Autodesk announced a $4.3 million gift to Cornell University’s College of Engineering and College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP) to help prepare students for the future of work in an increasingly AI-driven world. The investment will fund a new Autodesk Cornell Engineering Design and Make Space in Upson Hall.
This interdisciplinary facility will serve as a hub for experiential learning, where students can prototype, collaborate, and build using the same advanced tools and platforms as industry professionals—including free access to Autodesk Fusion, an all-in-one platform for CAD, CAM, and generative design.
“The world urgently needs skilled talent to design and make the brighter future we know is possible—but right now, there’s a critical skills gap,” said Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer at Autodesk. “Autodesk is committed to closing this gap by putting cutting-edge technology directly into the hands of tomorrow’s innovators. Our collaboration with Cornell University accelerates this effort, equipping the next generation of engineers, architects, and designers with the tools, technology, and real-world experience they need to build successful careers and shape our collective future.”
Cornell’s J. Meejin Yoon, Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of Architecture, Art, and Planning; Lynden A. Archer, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering; and Krystyn Van Vliet, Vice President for Innovation and External Engagement Strategy, join Autodesk’s Jeff Kinder, Executive Vice President of Product Development and Manufacturing Solutions, and Ruth Ann Keene, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, for the official signing of the memorandum of understanding facilitated by robotic arms in AAP’s Autodesk Design and Make Space. Anson Wigner / AAP
Closing the skills gap
The announcement coincides with the release of Autodesk’s 2025 State of Design & Make report, which found that AI is now the number one skill employers are hiring for across Design and Make industries. Meanwhile, 61% of industry professionals say new employees with the right technical skills are difficult to find, up 16 points from last year.
Autodesk’s long-standing collaboration with Cornell directly addresses this challenge and focuses on helping students across architecture, engineering, and more develop the right skillsets for jobs of the future.
As part of this gift, Cornell Engineering and AAP will each receive $2 million to enhance fabrication labs, research spaces, and prototyping tools, plus $150,000 in discretionary funds to accelerate innovation and instruction.
“The Autodesk Design and Make Space in Cornell Engineering is an investment in the future of experiential learning in our college that impacts students college-wide,” said Lynden Archer, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “I am grateful for and encouraged by Autodesk’s support of our efforts to educate problem solvers with combined hands-on and computational design expertise, which is critical in modern engineering and design practice.”
Equipping students to build a sustainable future
At the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, Autodesk’s donation names the AAP Autodesk Design and Make Space, which encompasses the current fabrication shops in Rand Hall. It will also enhance other maker spaces in the college, support research into emerging technologies, and align with growing student demand for green jobs and sustainable design education.
And the need has never been clearer:
- 3 in 4 professionals at tech-advanced companies say sustainability efforts help attract and retain top talent.*
- Nearly half of college students say they want to pursue a career in sustainability — but need the skills and training to get there.**
“At AAP, teaching, research, and learning thrive in environments that scaffold creativity, innovation, and iteration and encourage fluidity between digital and analog techniques,” said J. Meejin Yoon, Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of AAP. “This generous contribution to our college enables us to see that our spaces for creation and fabrication remain at the forefront and enable opportunities for collaboration across fields. Helping to further AAP’s mission, Autodesk’s gift ensures our faculty are well-supported, and our students are prepared to drive transformation across our disciplines with the resources, tools, and technologies needed to both inspire and actualize imagination.”
Why it matters now
As industries evolve at the speed of technology, the workforce is struggling to keep up. According to Autodesk’s 2025 State of Design & Make report:
- 46% of employers say AI skills are a top hiring priority.
- 58% say a lack of skilled talent is a barrier to their company’s growth—up 15 points from last year.
Autodesk’s investment is designed to help close that gap—giving students the technology, training, and experience to thrive in a world shaped by AI, sustainability, and innovation.
Suggested Items
Cadence Advances Design and Engineering for Europe’s Manufacturers on NVIDIA Industrial AI Cloud
06/13/2025 | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.At NVIDIA GTC Paris, Cadence announced it is providing optimized solutions for the world’s first industrial AI cloud in collaboration with NVIDIA.
Zuken Autorouters Embrace Collaborative AI
06/12/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineMaybe you’ve never liked autorouters; if so, you’re not alone. As Andy Buja, Zuken’s technical account manager for PCB Solutions, admits, autorouters are not perfect. But today’s autorouters allow designers a greater level of control than ever before, especially routers that incorporate collaborative AI.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Test: A Conversation with Bert Horner
06/11/2025 | Barry Matties, I-Connect007Bert Horner is a seasoned industry veteran and co-creator of The Test Connection, Inc. (TTCI), a test and inspection company spanning over 45 years. In this candid conversation, Bert reflects on the challenges our industry faces with the retirement of career professionals and the subsequent loss of critical tribal knowledge. As he unveils The Training Connection’s innovative training initiatives, Bert emphasizes the importance of evolving educational programs that align with industry needs, particularly in design for test (DFT), and sheds light on strategies being implemented to foster the next generation of engineers.
The Shaughnessy Report: Planning Your Best Route
06/10/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportDesigners don’t like autorouters, period. In my 26 years of covering PCB design and EDA tools, I’ve met about 25 designers who admit to using autorouters regularly. Two of these, Barry Olney and Stephen Chavez, have articles in this issue. If experts like these use routers, why haven’t you tried one?
KYZEN Focuses on Aqueous Cleaning and Stencil Cleaning at SMTA Ontario
06/09/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Ontario Expo and Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Tuesday, June 17 at the Venu Event Space in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. KYZEN will be on-site to provide information about aqueous cleaning chemistry AQUANOX A4618 and the full line of AQUANOX products.