Other-University Related Centers

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/NEP) is headquartered in Ben Franklin TechVentures® on the Mountaintop campus and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lehigh. Serving a 21-county region, the Center is part of a four-member, state-funded economic development initiative that brings together Pennsylvania's people, ideas, and technology, and serves as a catalyst for advancing the state's technology economy. Ben Franklin frequently utilizes the faculty, students, and resources of Lehigh to accomplish its tasks.

BFTP/NEP fosters innovation to stimulate economic growth. By providing knowledge and investment resources, Ben Franklin facilitates the creation of new products, sophisticated technologies, and novel processes among entrepreneurs and established companies to help them prosper. The result: the creation and retention of high-quality regional jobs and a strong economic climate. The goals of BFTP/NEP include helping early-stage technology-oriented firms to form and grow, helping established manufacturers to improve productivity through the application of new technologies and practices, and promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that fosters a favorable business environment for high-growth companies.

Founded in 1983, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania has:

The Ben Franklin program is structured to help companies achieve sustainable competitive advantage. BFTP/NEP is measured on the basis of the commercial success achieved by its clients as a direct result of assistance provided.

Assistance includes expertise, largely contributed in the northeast by the center’s association with Lehigh and other leading research universities, and funding, with investments ranging from $30,000 to $150,000 per year for up to three years. Faculty and students involved with Ben Franklin gain experience in solving real issues for working companies. Technical and business assistance services are provided on a year-round basis.

BFTP/NEP owns and operates Ben Franklin TechVentures, an award-winning business incubator and post-incubator facility. Fifty-five successful companies have graduated from the BFTP/NEP incubator, grossing more than $408 million in annual revenue last year and creating more than 5,400 jobs. The facility was expanded in 2011.

For more information, contact the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, Ben Franklin TechVentures, 116 Research Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015-4731; 610-758-5200; www.nep.benfranklin.org. E-mail: info@nep.benfranklin.org.

Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC)

Founded in 1988, MRC is one of seven statewide Industrial Resource Centers (IRCs) established to help small and mid-size manufacturers grow and remain competitive. In 1994, MRC joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) which is comprised of 59 nationwide centers. MRC works with manufacturing companies by leveraging its own staff of experienced Business Development Managers with public and private sector resources. Through our assistance and work with manufacturers, we help raise the economic level of the region by creating high impact, cost-competitive manufacturers.

With its main office located on Lehigh’s Goodman Campus, MRC serves all of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Carbon and Schuylkill counties. MRC offers services in four broad areas:

For further information or assistance, please contact Jack Pfunder, MRC President and CEO at 610-758-5596 or 800-343-6732. Please visit our website at www.mrcpa.org.

Manufacturing Systems Engineering (Center for)

200 W. Packer Avenue; (610) 758-5157

Keith M. Gardiner, Ph.D., director; Hisham Abu-Nabaa; John P. Coulter, Ph.D.; Steven L. Goldman, Ph.D.; Parveen P. Gupta, Ph.D.; David J. Hinrichs; Jacob Y. Kazakia, Ph.D.; Roger N. Nagel, Ph.D.; John B. Ochs, Ph.D.; Robert J. Trent, Ph.D.; George R. Wilson, Ph.D.

The Center for Manufacturing Systems Engineering was created in response to the expressed needs of industry for educational and research services which were distinctively cross-disciplinary. A primary responsibility of the center is the administration of an award winning educational program leading to a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. This world renowned program started in January of 1984 as a result of a major initiation grant from the IBM Corporation. It now has 390 alumni who are working as managers and technical leaders in industry around the world. The center has four major thrusts: 1) A graduate program which offers a curriculum leading to the Master of Science degree in MSE. 2) Research directed at solving problems of manufacturing; this also serves to maintain faculty currency and provides a vehicle for student project and thesis studies. 3) Technology transfer to sustain the free flow of knowledge from the research laboratories to industrial applications, and from leadingedge member industries back into the classrooms. 4) The provision of services by supporting conferences, clinics, workshops and other means for communicating and disseminating the advantages of sound manufacturing systems engineering practice.

Graduate Education. The 30-credit master's degree MSE program is cross-disciplinary, administered through the College of Engineering and Applied Science, with additional courses provided by the College of Business and Economics. Four core courses, 4-5 graduate level elective courses (at least one elective must be an MSE-numbered course) and a 3or 6credit research project or thesis are requirements of all candidates for the M.S. degree. Courses are offered on campus and scheduled so that part-time students can complete the degree in two years. It is possible for distance students to earn the MS in MSE degree remotely. Special activities in the program are team intensive and include in depth studies of companies, tours of industry, industry-related research and internships. Additionally, an MSE option is available in the MBA&E program.

Research Activities. Students in the MS in MSE program undertake research of interest either to their employers, or to industry in general. Research activities range from microelectronics packaging, the use of lead free solders, welding specifications, pharmaceutical industry processes and equipment development qualification, design management, and process development for surgical products. There are investigations into activity-based costing, design management, application of financial information systems, and injection molding. There is collaboration with other centers, departments and laboratories in the preparation and planning of research proposals and programs which aim to improve the understanding of manufacturing.

For more information, contact: Keith M. Gardiner, kg03@lehigh.edu, Director, Center for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, H. S. Mohler Laboratory, Lehigh University, 200 W. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18015, or call (610) 758-5157 or visit our website at www.lehigh.edu/~inmse/gradprogram/

Philip Rauch Center for Business Communications (The)

621 Taylor Street; 758-4863

Joseph M. Manzo, MBA, director

The Rauch Center for Business Communications supports the business curriculum for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

Courses/programs administered through the center include BUS 05 and the Excel Competency program. BUS 05 is a one credit required course in the undergraduate program which addresses the foundations of business integrity. The Excel Competency program addresses the analysis and presentation of data in the context of business. This program is a prerequisite for 3 core courses in the undergraduate curriculum.

The center also partners with the faculty to develop methods for improving students’ writing and presentation skills. Programs are developed with the faculty and are integrated into the syllabus for the faculty member’s course where writing and/or presentations are required.

For more information, write to Anne Nierer, Coordinator, The Philip Rauch Center for Business Communications, Lehigh University, 621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015-3117, or email JMM6@lehigh.edu or phone 610-758-4863.

Small Business Development Center

Sandra F. Holsonback, Ph.D., director; Mary Beth Zingone, associate director; Kim Edwards, B.S.Ed., program director, Financing Assistance Program; David Dunn, B.S., program director, Government Marketing Assistance Program; Cora Landis, program director, Lexnet; Christine Cleaver, B.S., program director, South Bethlehem Assistance Program. (www.lehigh.edu/sbdc)

Established in 1978, the SBDC provides general management assistance to over 1,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses per year in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Primary funding for this program comes from major grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Specialized Programs. The Management Assistance Program delivers general management consulting to existing small firms and startup ventures. Services are offered to retail, service, wholesale, construction and manufacturing firms. Research is offered through electronic data base research. Seminars are offered on many topics of interest to start-up and growing firms.

The International Trade Development Program (ITDP) is a specialized outreach effort of the Small Business Development Center. The ITDP helps companies with exportable products to develop export marketing plans and establish direct contacts with international markets. Seminars, trade missions and research projects support the efforts of this program.

The Government Marketing Assistance Program assists potential suppliers to government sales in identifying and developing procedures. Clients are handled on a one to one basis. Trade fairs and seminars are also offered.

The Financing Assistance Program provides assistance in loan packaging and financial planning and helps clients identify appropriate financing sources. The program administers the Lehigh Valley Small Business Loan Pool and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Angel Network, a partnership program with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA. Contracts with the Lehigh/Northampton Revolving Loan Fund, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and other funding agencies provide resources for this assistance.

The Lehigh Valley Export Network (LEXNET) is the regional office of the Team Pennsylvania Export Network. Throughout the year LEXNET brings PA foreign office representatives to the Lehigh Valley to meet with SBDC clients and discuss in country export assistance needs. LEXNET also assists with export finance programs such as Market Access Grants allowing small and midsized manufacturing or service companies to participate in international trade events. Specialized training events and seminars are also held throughout the year.

The South Bethlehem Assistance Program (SBAP) is a specialized outreach effort of the SBDC that provides technical assistance to businesses located in the South Bethlehem Area.

Technology Business Development Program (TBDP) The TBDP provides assistance to companies in the areas of technology, product development, patent searches, trademarks, copyright, Internet strategies, commercial potential, business socioeconomic certifications and defense conversion. Special assistance with SBIR/STTR research funding opportunities is available. Clients are handled on a one to one basis. Seminars and workshops are also available.

Business Education and Training Program (BETP) The Business Education and Training Program of the Small Business Development Center provides specialized workshops, seminars and customized training for the small business community.

Small Business Consulting (formerly LUMAC). The Lehigh University Small Business Consulting Program (a graded three-credit course) was established in 1972 on the initiative of undergraduate students. Through support from the SBDC, approximately 150 students per year gain practical experience by providing counseling to sixty businesses.

For more information, write to Sandra Holsonback, Director, Small Business Development Center, 125 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015