Brunswick Corp. announced a major expansion of its i-Jet Lab that will triple its footprint, allowing more students on-site and providing a base for its growing Enterprise Technology Team.
Now in its third year, the i-Jet Lab is a collaboration with the University of Illinois that focuses on expanding Brunswick’s ACES strategy: autonomy, connectivity, electrification and shared access. Students are given access to Brunswick staff and resources with the goal of utilizing technology and design to enrich the boating experience.
“We see technology and innovation as enablers to a frictionless boating experience, and, importantly, we believe in the power of constant collaboration and exploration,” i-Jet site director Trevor George said in a statement. “These strengths, along with the collaboration with other companies within the Research Park, give us an opportunity that most companies don’t have, allowing us to define the future of boating by continuously investing in state-of-the-art technology and industry-leading processes and methods.”
To bolster the i-Jet staff, Brunswick announced that it promoted Jason Arbuckle to the new position of marine autonomy technology lead. The appointment follows last November’s hiring of John Oenick as director of enterprise electrification.
“The expansion of our i-Jet lab is a critical component in our ability to improve our pipeline for talent,” said John Reid, vice president of enterprise technologies, who joined the team last year. “We look forward to fostering the next generation of leaders by creating an environment that is conducive to innovation and collaboration as we define the future of the marine industry and deliver innovation and inspiration on the water.”
The expanded lab is slated to open July 1.
