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.
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.