Office for Innovation

Resources for Faculty, Postdocs, and Students

There are many resources available to Penn State Faculty, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Graduate Students who would like to translate their discoveries for use in the public sector. See Invent Penn State’s Resource Navigator and Events Calendar for more information.

  • PIVOT Webinars- Office for Innovation hosted webinars on “alternative” careers in science and technology.
  • Summer Founders Program – accelerator program for new startups (must have a student founder) that provides funding, mentoring, and connections to resources
  • TechCelerator Program – business accelerator bootcamp that provides a crash-course on the business model and startup company basics, mentorship, and business development assistance
  • NSF I-Corps Program – customer discovery program that provides microgrants, commercialization training, mentorship, and assistance for determining if a market exists for the innovation
  • Happy Valley LaunchBox –mentoring, legal and business advice; accelerator programs; and co-working space for entrepreneurs
  • Eberly College of Science Technology Advisory Board – alumni mentors who advise researchers on strategies to de-risk technologies, complete crucial proof-of-concept studies, and connect with possible collaborators/licensees
  • PSU Startup Leadership Network – network of business advisors/management (business and technical) to support the growing number of Penn State startup companies
  • Startup Company Support – Invent Penn State assists entrepreneurs in a variety of ways including business training, funding or investors, business space, networking and exposure, employees or employee training, and more
  • Happy Valley LaunchBox –mentoring, legal and business advice; accelerator programs; and co-working space for entrepreneurs
  • Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic –free clinic for entrepreneurs that provides assistance on matters relating to business/entity formation, founder agreements, employee agreements and management, and investor term sheets
  • Intellectual Property Clinic – free clinic for entrepreneurs that provides assistance on matters relating to general intellectual property counsel, patentability and trademark clearance searches, drafting patent and trademark applications, and interacting with the US Patent and Trademark Office
  • Patent and Trademark Resource Center – library resources to assist entrepreneurs in finding information on patents and trademarks
  • The Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory – technical assistance (e.g., design, prototyping, manufacturing, CNC/manual machining, 3D printing, welding, metrology, CAD/CAM) provided by Penn State Engineering undergraduate students through University-Industry partnerships in conjunction with a capstone course
  • PennTAP – a federal, state, and University partnership that stimulates statewide economic development by helping organizations maximize their competitiveness through in-person consultations, unbiased technical advice, and connections to Penn State experts, resources, and programs
  • Ben Franklin Technology Partners – provides funding, business and technical expertise, and access to a network of innovative, expert resources
  • Small Business Development Center – free business consulting and low-cost seminars to pre-venture, startup, and existing small businesses in Centre and Mifflin counties
  • Invent Penn State – resource hub of entrepreneurial activity and assistance across Pennsylvania