LaunchBox is a signature program of Invent Penn State, which is a Commonwealth-wide initiative to spur economic development, job creation and student career success. Invent Penn State blends entrepreneurship-focused academic programs, business startup training and incubation, funding for commercialization, and University-community collaborations to facilitate the challenging process of turning research discoveries into valuable products and services that can benefit Pennsylvanians and humankind. Connect with the initiative at invent.psu.edu.
Penn State Behrend's Innovation Commons — an idea laboratory, maker space, technology playground, legal office, marketing agency and entrepreneurs’ gathering spot rolled under one roof — has opened to support small businesses and startups. The facility was funded in part by the Invent Penn State initiative.
A Jan. 8 ribbon-cutting opened the Innovation Commons lab at Penn State Behrend, one of six new entrepreneurship centers funded by the Invent Penn State initiative. Participating were, from left: Samuel P. "Pat" Black III, chairman of Erie Management Group and a longtime supporter of Penn State Behrend; Penn State Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey; Penn State Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses Madlyn Hanes; Penn State President Eric Barron; Penn State Behrend Chancellor Ralph Ford; Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper; Perry Wood, executive director of the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority; and Scott McCain, chairman of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows.
