PennTAP advisors can connect companies with Penn State students to work on projects as part of Penn State senior capstone courses. PennTAP also provides funding assistance for companies to sponsor Penn State Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory student projects, which engage motivated engineering students in a semester-long project to improve upon a process at a company’s facility, allowing them to also connect with and gain insight on potential future interns and employees.

By working with PennTAP and carefully selected university partners, companies receive assistance in evaluating the feasibility of a project, including design, proof-of-concept, process, and material issues. PennTAP advisors help identify ideal prototyping and manufacturing facilities and refer business development resources to assist in research, product testing, and go-to-market strategy.

PennTAP connects companies to a vast ecosystem of private and government resources that are concentrated in PA. Programs such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)’s Manufacturing PA Innovation Program encourage and fund formal collaborations between small PA businesses and research institutions. PennTAP advisors annually facilitate successfully funded partnerships between Pennsylvania companies and Penn State faculty members with shared research interests for these programs.

Tap into a vast network of entrepreneurial resources concentrated in PA. PennTAP connects your business to a strategic ecosystem that supports innovation, growth, and competitive advantage. We provide statewide support through collaboration with Penn State campus communities and the Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network, comprised of 23 innovation spaces offering free coworking and entrepreneurial programming to PA entrepreneurs and startups, regardless of university affiliation. PennTAP also works closely with community partners in each of its six regions, including Local Development Districts (LDDs), to assess local resources and needs of the community.

PennTAP connects Penn State researchers with PA industry partners to broaden the impact of their work. We facilitate collaborations that provide testbed sites, develop classroom projects, and offer real-world experiential learning for students. By linking research with PA communities and companies, we help expand dissemination opportunities, secure industry advisory board members, and foster industry research partnerships. With PennTAP’s extensive network and expertise, you can leverage your research to create meaningful industry connections and achieve significant, lasting impact.

“Thanks to (PennTAP Advisor) Krista Schneider, we are working with some of the most preeminent minds in materials science and advanced materials at Penn State. This collaboration will undoubtedly enhance our innovation, help Laurel Materials establish industry credibility, and shave precious time needed to bring our products to market and assist in creating a clean and sustainable economy.”

— Kris Wood, Co-Founder and COO, Laurel Materials