Central Pa. college, university receiving funding for manufacturing research projects

Millersville University and York College of Pennsylvania are among the 20 Pennsylvania colleges and universities receiving funding from the Shapiro Administration for manufacturing research projects.

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced more than $2.8 million in grants through the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program to 42 student research projects across the commonwealth. The aim is to help advance manufacturing innovation in several sectors, from AI driven semiconductor manufacturing to upcycling farming waste into biomaterials to 3-D printing of medical devices for pets.

“The Shapiro Administration is laser-focused on advancing Pennsylvania’s innovation economy, and investing in cutting-edge research projects like these is essential to accomplishing that,” Siger said in a statement. “Pennsylvania is home to some of the finest research institutions in the country, and I know the work of the students and projects funded here today will help us continue to be a national leader in manufacturing and innovation.”

According to a release, the approved projects are part of Manufacturing PA’s fellowship program, which embeds the state’s best and brightest graduate and undergraduate students with local manufacturers to develop new technologies and advance innovation statewide. Universities can apply for up to $70,000 in funding for specific student research projects.

The 42 projects that received grants are involved in partnerships with local manufacturing companies and Pennsylvania universities.

Millersville University received $69,999 for “Automated Quality Inspection of Manufactured Durable Goods” for PrecisionForm, Inc. and Precision Cobotics in Lititz.

York College received $69,960 for “Development of Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning) for Automated Laboratory Sample Handling within the Manufacturing Environment” for York County-based MRG Labs, PennAir, and Hanover Conveying Systems.

The Manufacturing PA fellowship program is administered by DCED and Carnegie Mellon University.  Established in 2018, the program has granted more than $17.9 million to 738 students across Pennsylvania for 276 total projects, and 202 Pennsylvania companies have benefited from these partnerships.

Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget calls for more than $160 million in total new and expanded investments to implement Pennsylvania’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy.