Lehigh University - Partners: Business Development


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A Guide for Corporations and Foundations > Business Development

Business Development

Lehigh’s expertise and collaborative ventures can help area entrepreneurs and established businesses to leverage their potential by providing research, advice, economic development assistance, and manufacturing solutions.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania
The Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP) of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a state-funded economic development initiative and a wholly owned subsidiary of Lehigh University. BFTP's strategy encompasses three key areas: 1) developing early-stage, technology-oriented companies; 2) helping established manufacturers creatively apply new technology and business practices; and 3) promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that fosters a favorable business environment for high-growth companies.

Small Business Development Center

The Lehigh University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a member of the Pennsylvania Network of Small Business Development Centers, provides startup advice and support to over 1000 small businesses each year in Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, and Montgomery counties. The Center provides consulting, at no cost, to businesses in all stages of development, from pre-venture to mature.

Enterprise Systems Center

The Enterprise Systems Center at Lehigh blends education with business development by fusing industry value creation with student experiential learning. The Center employs students, faculty, and professional engineers to work in teams capable of tackling a variety of real world industry situations.

Manufacturers Resource Center

The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) assists small and mid-size manufacturers to compete successfully through small group training settings, large public seminars, and “extranets”—real time forums for discussing manufacturing issues with experts. MRC assistance can take several forms: assessment/benchmarking; problem solving/management consulting; one-on-one assistance; specialized training; resource location and coordination; group activities/users groups; and grant application facilitation.

Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania

The Central Pennsylvania region has a proven ability to develop health and life sciences related technologies, and to move them into the market. With more than $500 million in sponsored research among its universities, as well as an ample supply of incubator space and facilities, the Life Sciences Greenhouse can help translate important discoveries into economic growth and job creation. Focusing primarily on the research capabilities of Penn State, Hershey Medical Center, and Lehigh, the Life Sciences Greenhouse targets: 1) rational drug design and delivery; 2) biomedical devices; and 3) bio-nanofabrication, or creating devices that function at very small scales.

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) markets the Lehigh Valley's identity regionally, nationally and internationally, giving priority to business attraction, retention and expansion. That mission coincides with the revitalization of the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, and the redevelopment of previous industrial sites. The corporation provides visitors, newcomers, and prospective employers with comprehensive information on the Lehigh Valley, including demographics for the region; housing, healthcare, and education information; cultural and recreational opportunities;and listing of the top area employers.