In one four-year span, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners throughout Pennsylvania helped to create 11,407 high-paying jobs and boosted the commonwealth’s overall economy by $4.1 billion, according to an in-depth analysis by the Pennsylvania Economy League and KLIOS Consulting.

Good news, small business owners looking to launch your business, or grow to the next step! SBDC offers free consulting and seminars geared that provide entrepreneurs with the information and education needed to succeed. We sat down with them to learn about their spring events. Read more!

Even Centre County’s first major snowstorm of the season could not dampen the celebratory atmosphere of the 100‑plus university officials, business leaders, government representatives and community members who gathered at Penn State’s Innovation Park on November 15 to mark the grand opening of Morgan Advanced Materials’ new multi‑million dollar Carbon Science Centre of Excellence at Penn State’s Innovation Park. The new Centre of Excellence will pioneer research into carbon materials and technologies, drawing on the resources of Penn State and its faculty in a truly collaborative partnership that is the latest success in the University’s Invent Penn State initiative.

Every year for the past 30 years, Ben Franklin Technology Partners has teamed up with the minds behind some of Pennsylvania’s biggest ideas, fueling their projects with the funding they need to take the next big step. The money—up to four yearly infusions of cash totaling $500,000—is used for things like software development, prototype development, beta testing and payroll. In the most practical terms, the funding is buying time, expertise and the ability to focus on the project.

From changing a tire to removing a gallbladder, there’s no substitute for learning by doing. Most of us learn more effectively when we get hands‑on experience, and medical simulators are bringing entirely new experiential learning opportunities to medical students around the world. The potential value of using medical simulation technology in medical schools is unquantifiable, so it’s no surprise that investors are flocking to startups offering applications for this advanced educational technology.