Company donates $2B in software to Va. colleges

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Electronics and engineering company Siemens Corp. is donating software worth more than $2 billion to seven Virginia universities and community colleges.

The company announced the donation Wednesday. The initiative is aimed at helping train students for advanced manufacturing careers.

Siemens, based in Germany, is donating the same software the company and its clients use in the automotive, aerospace, consumer products, medical device, electronics, shipbuilding and apparel industries.

Thomas Nelson Community College is receiving the biggest donation with $955 million worth of software. Old Dominion is next at $746 million, followed by Virginia Commonwealth University at $230 million.

Other recipients are New River Community College, Virginia State University, ECPI University and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.