Central Pennsylvania is known more for agriculture than its tech culture, but Millersville University computer science professor Stephanie Elzer is quick to point out that it has been a hotbed for some major entrepreneurs who played key roles in the advent of the Internet, web browser development, and the launch of Mapquest.
“Despite those local roots, regional entrepreneurs, particularly those focusing on computer-related inventions and technological advances, have had to look outside of our region for assistance with translating their discoveries from the workbench to the market,” says Elzer.
Millersville’s Software Productization Center (SPC) aims to keep those projects in Central Pa. The Lancaster state school launched the SPC in January, 2008 thanks to a $182,000 grant from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (about 40 percent of the grant goes toward student salaries).
The SPC approved its first two collaborations last fall–CruzCourt, an off-site company cafeteria with a web-based ordering system, and Express Dynamics, a software company focused on providing applications that allow non-programmers to develop customized programs for business-related purposes. The SPC is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs for the next academic year (first phase of applications are due May 12).
“It is obviously helping our local economy by lending support to fledgling businesses, but it is also helping to better train our future workforce,” says Elzer.
The projects involve nine students across four disciplines–Computer Science, Art/Design, Business/Marketing, and Communications/Public Relations. The students enjoy the hands-on experience in launching a product, something they could only read about in a classroom.
“It’s given me the chance to take my education into my own hands,” says Trevor Scheitrum, a junior Computer Science major.
Source: Stephanie Elzer, Millersville University
Writer: Joe Petrucci
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