A little more than a decade ago, the state launched the Pennsylvania Initiative for Nanotechnology to reap the benefits that nanotechnology has to technology-based economic development. The initiative combines the efforts of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, research universities, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and more than 125 companies to enhance nanotech transfer and commercialization. It has invested $103 million and leveraged nearly $500 million in private investment.
Our high-tech sectors are a cornerstone of our growth, and these latest investments will go a long way in supporting our tech-based economy by giving our partners the resources they need to incubate innovative ideas, and get them to the marketplace, says Governor Ed Rendell in a news release.
The funded projects include:
–$789,000 for the Pittsburgh-based Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center to help increase the growth of nano-based start-up companies and product development at existing PA companies.
–$300,000 and $700,000 for Lehigh University’s Lehigh Nanophotonics Technologies program and to support the PA Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, respectively.
–$1.5 million to Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern PA, in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, to support the Nanotechnology Institute.
–$1.5 million for Penn State Universitys Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Research and Commercialization Program to acquire instrumentation and expand facilities and research.
–$1 million for Penn State to support the Pennsylvania Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology partnership.
Source: Jamie Yates, PA DCED
Writer: Joe Petrucci