Foxconn’s $100M deal with the University of Wisconsin has students worried

Foxconn’s $100M deal with the University of Wisconsin has students worried

5 years ago
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https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/5/18064346/foxconn-deal-wisconsin-madison-university-partnership-students-ip

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison in late August, chancellor Rebecca Blank and Foxconn chairman Terry Gou announced the largest industry research partnership in the school’s history. The Taiwanese tech giant would invest $100 million in the school and help establish a new research facility for the College of Engineering. “UW–Madison and Foxconn share a commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge through interdisciplinary research and we are deeply grateful for Chairman Gou’s support and partnership,” Blank said.

Last year, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wooed Foxconn to the state with the promise of a $3 billion subsidy, which grew to $4.1 billion and included exemptions from environmental regulations, special treatment from state courts, and other enticements. But the company’s plans soon began to change. Foxconn now says it will build a far smaller factory, and most of the jobs will not be in manufacturing, but for knowledge workers creating an ecosystem the company calls “AI 8K+5G.” Amid doubts about the value of the Foxconn project, the University of Wisconsin partnership appeared to be a sign that the company would be a boon to the region.