The Power of Partnership
IPart is a consortium of economic development, business assistance, and higher education organizations located throughout Pennsylvania.
Our Goal: Help early-stage, technology-focused, small businesses, WIN federal funding opportunities to commercialize their innovations.
Federal SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) & STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer)programs have more than $4.5 billion in funding offered by 11 different agencies – but, navigating the submission processes can be overwhelming — and costly — for a small business.
IPart helps Pennsylvania-based, small, tech-focused businesses with agency/topic matching, communicating with federal program managers, timing, strategic proposal development, expert technical reviewer feedback, and Phase 0, micro-funding – to develop and submit competitive proposals and WIN the funding they need to grow and commercialize their innovations.
You can find contact information for all of our supporting IPart Partner Organizations HERE
About Innovation Partners
The Innovation Partnership (IPart) is a consortium of economic development and business assistance providers and higher education research institutions located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Our statewide network of partnering organizations provides us the depth and breadth necessary to address your need for additional financial, technical, and business assistance. IPart is substantially supported monetarily by SBA FAST funding, the Ben Franklin Technology Partner Network and ALL of its Partner Organizations.
A Message from Kelly S. Wylam, IPart Executive Director: We hope you find the information provided on our website about the federal SBIR/STTR & IPart assistance programs helpful and engaging. Your innovative, technology-focused projects excite and inspire us! We look forward to assisting you on your SBIR/STTR journey.
Administrative Office
Kelly S. Wylam, Executive Director 1010 N. 7th Street, Suite 304
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: (717) 948-4318
Website: www.innovationpartnership.net
BFTP Northeastern PA Office
116 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015-3715
Phone:
(610) 758-5200
Email:
info@nep.benfranklin.org
Website:
www.nep.benfranklin.org
BFTP Southeastern PA Office
Building 100, Innovation Center
4800 S. 18th Street, Suite 200
The Navy Yard
Philadelphia, PA 19112
Phone:
(215) 972-6700
Website:
www.sep.benfranklin.org
BFTP Southwestern PA Office (Innovation Works)
2000 Technology Drive, Suite 250
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219-3109
Phone:
(412) 681-1520
Email:
info@nep.benfranklin.org
Website:
www.innovationworks.org
Central & Northern Office: Harrisburg
1010 N. 7th St., Suite 307
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone:
(717) 948-6372
Website:
www.cnp.benfranklin.org
Central & Northern Office: Erie
Brian Slawin, Regional Director
Knowledge Park, Suite 202
5340 Fryling Road
Erie, PA 16510
Phone:
(814) 898-6539
Email:
brianslawin@cnp.benfranklin.org
Website:
www.cnp.benfranklin.org
Central & Northern Office: PSU
150 Innovation Blvd., Suite 150
University Park, PA 16803
Phone:
(814) 865-2879
Website:
www.cnp.benfranklin.org
Cindy Chepanoske, Director of Technology Licensing
CMU Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation
Bakery Square OVPR
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone:
(412) 268-2979
Email:
cchepano@andrew.cmu.edu
Website:
http://www.cmu.edu/cttec
Drexel Applied Innovation
The Left Bank
3180 Chestnut Street, Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Website:
http://drexel.edu/applied-innovation/
Catalyst Connection
Matt Holjes
Managing Director of Business Development
2000 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone:
(412) 918-4264
Email:
mhojles@catalystconnection.org
Website:
www.catalystconnection.org
Delaware Valley IRC (DVIRC)
2905 Southampton Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Phone:
(215) 464-8550
Website:
www.dvirc.org
Manufacturing Technology IRC (MANTEC)
600 N. Hartley Street, Suite 100
York, PA 17404
Phone:
(717) 843-5054
Website:
https://mantec.org/
Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC)
Hanover Office Plaza
961 Marcon Boulevard, Suite 200
Allentown, PA 18109
Phone:
(610) 628-4640
Website:
https://www.mrcpa.org/
Northeastern PA IRC (NEPIRC)
75 Young Street
Hanover Industrial Estates
Hanover Township, PA 18706-1471
Phone:
(570) 819-8966
TollFree: (800) 654-8960
Website:
http://www.nepirc.com/
Northwest PA IRC (NWPIRC)
8425 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509
Phone:
(814) 217-6060
Website:
https://www.nwirc.org/
Innovative Manufacturers’ Center (IMC)
One College Avenue, DIF 32
Williamsport, PA 17701-5799
Phone:
(570) 329-3200
TollFree: (800) 326-9467
Website:
http://imcpa.com/
Lehigh University
Lehigh University, Office of Entrepreneurship
472 Vine Street
(Formerly St. Peter’s Church) Room 321
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone:
(610) 758-5534
Email:
inspired@lehigh.edu
Website:
https://entrepreneurship.lehigh.edu/
Life Science Greenhouse Investments (LSGI)
3211 N. Front St., Suite #201
Harrisburg PA 17110
Phone:
(717) 929-8729
Email:
admin@LSGPA.com
Website:
https://www.lsgpa.com/
LifeX Global – Pittsburgh
218 Oakland Ave 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone:
(412) 651-0756
Website:
https://lifexglobal.com/
PA Biotech Center
3805 Old Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18902
Phone:
(215) 589-6300
Email:
info@pabiocenter.org
Website:
https://pabiocenter.org/
3600 Civic Center Blvd, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone:
(215) 898-9591
Email:
pciinfo@pci.upenn.edu
Website:
https://pci.upenn.edu/
Jennifer Leinbach
Executive Director, BFTDA
PA DCED, Office of Technology Investment
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone:
(717) 720-1396
Email:
jeleinbach@pa.gov
Website:
https://dced.pa.gov/business-assistance/technology-innovation/
Robert Bylone
President & CEO
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Church Hall, 3rd Fl.
Middletown, PA 17057-4898
Phone:
(717) 948-6660
Email:
rjbPhone: 128@psu.edu
Website:
https://pennrmc.org/
Clarion University SBDC
Website: http://web.clarion.edu/sbdc/
Duquesne University SBDC
Website: www.duq.edu/sbdc
Gannon University SBDC
Website: http://www.sbdcgannon.org
Indiana University of PA SBDC
Website: https://www.iup.edu/business/sbdc/
Kutztown University SBDC
Website: http://www.kutztownsbdc.org
Lock Haven University SBDC
Website: http://community.lhup.edu/sbdc/
Penn State University SBDC
Website: http://sbdc.psu.edu
Saint Francis University SBDC
Website: www.sfcpa.edu/sbdc
Saint Vincent College SBDC
Website: http://www.stvincent.edu/sbdc
Shippensburg University
Website: http://www.ship.edu/sbdc
Temple University SBDC
Website: temple.edu/sbdc
University of Pittsburgh SBDC
Website: http://entrepreneur.pitt.edu/institute-centers/small-business-development-center/
University of Scranton SBDC
Website: http://www.scrantonsbdc.com
Widener University SBDC
Website: http://www.widenersbdc.org/
Wilkes University SBDC
Website: sbdc.wilkes.edu
James Delattre, PhD
Assistant VP for Research
Director, Office of Entrepreneurship & Commercialization
Penn State University
0101 Technology Center
University Park, PA 16802
Phone:
814.865.1751
Email:
jld141@psu.edu
Website:
https://www.research.psu.edu/node/185
PSU Office Of Technology Transfer (OTT)
Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub
123 S.
Burrowes Street,
Suite 311
State College, PA 16801
Phone:
814-865-6277
Email:
ottinfo@psu.edu
Website:
https://ott.psu.edu/
Penn State University, College of Medicine
Erika Swift, MBA, MHA
Executive Director,
Center for Medical Innovation (CMI)
500 University Drive
P.O. Box 850
Mail Code R110
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone:
717-531-8496
Email:
CMI@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Website:
https://med.psu.edu/departments-faculty/center-for-medical-innovation
PennTAP
Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program
200 Innovation Blvd Suite 115
State College, PA 16803
Regional Contacts: https://penntap.psu.edu/contact/
Phone:
(814) 865-0427
Email:
penntap@psu.edu
Website:
https://penntap.psu.edu/
J. Todd Abrams, PhD
Director, New Ventures and Business Development
Technology Commercialization and Business Development
1803 N. Broad Street
Carnell Hall, RM 1003 Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone:
(215) 204-8823
Email:
todd.abrams@temple.edu
Website:
https://research.temple.edu/innovation
Heath Naquin
VP Gvt & Capital Engagement
The Science Center
3711 Market Street, Suite 800
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email:
HNaquin@sciencecenter.org
Website:
www.sciencecenter.org
Paul Petrovich, CPA
Asst. Director Business Development
University of Pittsburgh
Innovation Institute
1st Floor Gardner Steel Conference Center
130 Thackeray Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone:
(412) 624-3138
Email:
ppetrovich@innovation.pitt.edu
Website:
http://www.innovation.pitt.edu/
SBA – Federal & State Technology Partnership Program (FAST)
Pennsylvania’s Innovation Partnership (IPart) has been the recipient of 11 SBA Federal & State Technology Partnership (FAST) grant awards (current funding award for FY25-26), since the inception of this hugely beneficial SBA funding support program – to specifically assist states with SBIR/STTR client counseling, training, proposal development/review assistance and funding opportunities for SBIR/STTR applicants and other SBIR/STTR-related business assistance.
SBA FAST awards build the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through:
Outreach:
Increase the pipeline of SBIR/STTR applicants through training and outreach; and build the capacity of partner organizations and individuals to support SBIR/STTR applicants and existing awardees.
Technical and Business Assistance:
Support entrepreneurs and startups through programs or services that improve proposal development and team creation; provide assistance that leads to the commercialization of technology developed through SBIR/STTR program funding; and form or encourage relevant mentoring networks to provide business advice and counseling.
Financial Support:
Make grants or loans to applicants to pay a portion or all the cost of developing SBIR/STTR proposals (Phase 0), attending relevant conferences, and bridging gaps between phases.
Please read more about the SBA FAST Program HERE
