RUSTON — Amdocs, the leading provider of customer experience systems and services, today announced that it will join a new consortium led by Louisiana Tech University designed to spur innovation and strengthen work force development by supporting research and development in strategic areas such as telecommunications, networking, cybersecurity and information technology.

Organized by Louisiana Tech, the Industry Consortium for Innovations in Communications, Information and Cyberspace (IC)3 will also work to foster bonds between industry, the university and government to support the rapidly growing communications and technology ecosystem now developing around the university's hub in northern Louisiana.

"The objective of (IC)3 is to further accelerate the remarkable high-tech ecosystem that has already taken hold in the region," said Dr. Les Guice, vice president for research and development at Louisiana Tech.

"While this partnership leverages Tech's stature as an important research center, we realize that this initiative needs the involvement of industry and government to truly make a difference," Guice said. "Amdocs, with its 30-year heritage of innovation and commitment to the success of communications service providers around the world, is an ideal industry partner to help us launch this consortium."

"Joining the (IC)3 consortium will help Amdocs achieve one of our primary corporate goals: to foster high-impact innovation that results in exciting, revenue-generating new services for service providers and their end-user customers," said Eric Updyke, North American division president for Amdocs. "This agreement with Louisiana Tech extends our proud history of working with leading universities and research institutions around the world on behalf of our customers."

Amdocs' role in (IC)3 will include providing strategic direction on core research projects, having early access to research findings and possibly licensing rights for new technologies. Amdocs also plans to sponsor networking and recruiting events, including presenting guest speakers from both inside and outside the company. Amdocs will have access to Louisiana Tech's networking and communications infrastructure and will have an office in the school's new Enterprise Campus.

Regional employers lauded one of the consortium's primary goals of strengthening development of a local workforce with 21st-century skills.

"We support the goals of the (IC)3 consortium and congratulate Amdocs and LA Tech for launching what's sure to be a productive collaboration," said Bill Bradley, senior vice president and chief information officer of CenturyLink, based nearby in Monroe, La. "In addition to strengthening the technology workforce in our region— and that's important to us as a leading area employer — this partnership will foster new innovations that will continue to drive the communications revolution that has reshaped our lives."