Pennsylvania transforms research into commercial success, linking universities, industry, and entrepreneurs to turn discoveries into businesses and jobs.
Pennsylvania’s innovation pipeline is a powerful economic engine. The Commonwealth is home to globally recognized research institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Penn State. It ranks fourth in the United States in terms of academic research and development spending. Each year, Pennsylvania produces more than 190,000 skilled graduates.
The Pennsylvania Innovation Fund and new Industry and Higher Education Innovation Councils bridge the gap between ideas and implementation. These initiatives invest directly in start-ups. They accelerate collaboration between industry and academia. They also support the commercialisation of breakthrough technologies in life sciences, robotics, manufacturing, agriculture, and clean energy.
Across the Commonwealth, innovation hubs are turning research into business impact. The Pennovation Works campus in Philadelphia connects university research with high-growth start-ups in bioengineering, AI, and sustainability. In Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University drives advances in robotics, AI, data science, and automation that feed new manufacturing technologies. The state’s problem solvers competitions are sourcing entrepreneurial solutions to real-world challenges, while the Buy Pennsylvania initiative is keeping the resulting supply chains local.
By aligning investment, talent, and infrastructure, Pennsylvania is strengthening every stage of its innovation journey from discovery to deployment. It is a model of how research excellence can deliver measurable economic results, positioning the Commonwealth as a top destination for companies seeking to collaborate, grow, and innovate.
- $5 billion annual academic R&D investment
- Over 1,100 new high-growth start-ups are expected over the next decade
- Ranked top-five nationally for research output and STEM talent
- Home to world-leading innovation clusters in life sciences, robotics, and advanced manufacturing
If your business is exploring opportunities to collaborate or expand in the United States, get in touch with our team to discuss how Pennsylvania’s innovation network can support your growth plans.
