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On April 10, Draper announced that it has officially opened its newest corporate campus at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. To celebrate, Draper hosted an Open House on April 8 at its offices in the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC).
Speakers at the open house included Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Kim Driscoll, UMass President Marty Meehan, UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, Lowell Mayor Daniel P. Rourke, and Massachusetts State Representative Tara Hong. Draper was represented by President and CEO Jerry Wohletz, Ph.D., and Sarah Leeper, Vice President and General Manager of Electronic Systems. The open house also featured presentations of recent work by Draper research teams.
Draper is an anchor tenant in LINC, a transformative public-private development project made possible by the leadership of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Massachusetts Building Authority (UMBA), and the City of Lowell, with significant support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“When leading companies like Draper partner with top-tier public research universities like UMass Lowell, it creates powerful momentum for innovation, workforce development and regional growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This is exactly the kind of collaboration our administration is proud to support — partnerships that fuel economic development, build a strong talent pipeline, and create long-term opportunity for communities across Massachusetts.”
The campus, announced in 2024, supports Draper’s Electronic Systems business, which focuses on specialized microelectronics for the military, critical infrastructure, and space exploration markets. It also significantly expands Draper’s ability to design and deliver specialized, secure, and environmentally resilient microelectronics and support the nation’s industrial base. And Draper is working closely with the university to develop the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technicians to grow the microelectronics workforce in Massachusetts.
“Draper has long embraced its roots in educating the future since our origins as the MIT Instrumentation Lab, and we carry that tradition forward with our mission focus on education,” said Wohletz. “Success happens at the crossroads of innovation and partnerships between academia. This model has worked well for over 90 years, and we continue to drive innovation through our university partnerships across the country and now at the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus. Draper is here to help with mentorships, prototype testing and development, and opportunities for customer collaborations that result in fielded and deployed solutions.”
Leeper added, “The opening of this campus is the first step in expanding our capabilities in Lowell. Over the next several years, Draper plans to develop a microelectronics production assembly and test facility to meet the increasing demands from our customers. This is instrumental in guaranteeing the onshore manufacturing capability required to deliver solutions that address our national security needs. At the same time, the project will serve as an engine for economic growth and employment here in Massachusetts.”
Source: Draper
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