In alignment with Penn State University’s land grant mission, we serve as a liaison between the manufacturing sector and Penn State, a Research 1 institution with access to cutting-edge technology, equipment, subject matter experts, and labs. In addition, we can build relationships between your organization and a vast ecosystem of private and government resources that are concentrated in Pennsylvania, but can be found nationwide.
By working with our team and carefully selected university partners, you get assistance in evaluating the feasibility of a project, including design, proof-of-concept, process, and material issues. We can help you identify ideal prototyping and manufacturing facilities and refer you to business development resources to assist in research, product testing, and go-to-market strategy.
Contact us to learn how our university connection can improve your business.
Student Engagement Opportunities
Because our team provides services and solutions to businesses and organizations in communities across the Commonwealth, we are uniquely positioned to engage Penn State students in projects outside of the classroom.
We provide students with hands-on experience conducting energy assessments for manufacturing facilities alongside our technical advisors. The students then work with advisors to develop and implement energy reduction and process improvement strategies. By working through an energy assessment project from start to finish, students apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems, gain mentorship from an industry professional, and make invaluable connections within the community.
Some university partnerships that industry partners can benefit from include:
Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory
The Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory is a hands-on facility providing modern design, prototyping, and manufacturing processes, including machining (CNC and manual), 3D printing, welding, metrology, and CAD/CAM. Industry partners get a chance to work with motivated students and gain insight on potential future employees. Additionally, the continued growth of thriving businesses can create attractive jobs to keep Penn State graduates in Pennsylvania, reducing the state’s brain drain. Contact us to learn more.
Capstone Course Projects and Internships
We collaborate with Penn State instructors to provide hands on industry experience to their students. If you are interested in having your students work on a project or visit a manufacturing site with our advisors, or if you are interested in having a student team work on a project for your facility, please contact us.
We also offer seasonal internships to both undergraduate and graduate students at Penn State to work alongside of and learn from our technical advisors out in the field.
University Center — Pennsylvania Regional Entrepreneurship Assistance Program (PA REAP)
PA REAP, Penn State’s University Center funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), makes our resources as well as those from Penn State available for statewide economic development. These resources include specialized research, outreach, technology transfer, and commercialization capabilities, as well as faculty expertise and the use of sophisticated laboratories. Some of the programs that make use of PA REAP funding include the Inc.U Competition, Invent Penn State’s LaunchBox and Innovation Hub Network, and Learning Factory Engineering Assistance.
The University Center is building a statewide assistance network that links Invent Penn State’s LaunchBox & Innovation Hub Network to their regional, federal, and state economic development resource partners. The Center will assist and share best practices with hub clients in the fields of programming and curriculum targeted to newer, high-skilled regional workforce requirements. The Center will further support the hubs by providing technical assistance and energy efficiency solutions.
The Center will bolster the regional entrepreneurial and developmental community, including students, startups, and small-to-midsize businesses, with a focus on supporting organizations located in economically distressed portions of the Commonwealth as well as people of minoritized populations.