More than 3,000 life sciences establishments across Pennsylvania are developing groundbreaking technologies that can solve our most pressing healthcare challenges.

Seed investor Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern Pennsylvania approved funding at its September board meeting for 12 startups, five of which are in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg.

A challenge grant of $16.4 million has been announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the first increase in funding for the BFTDA in 13 years. 

Four central Pennsylvania companies are among 11 to receive investments from Ben Franklin Technology Partners. 

Ben Franklin Technology Partners, which has an office in Harrisburg, has promoted John Sider to the newly created position of vice-president of business development.  

Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 draft budget proposes at least $22 million for Ben Franklin Technology Partners. 

The winner of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners BIGIDEA competition is Lancaster County’s Faubion which created 3D printing technology and wax resins that produce replicas of unique bridal rings.

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority announced that $14 million in state funding has been approved for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners.

A Leola-based roofing equipment company set out to build an app that would improve its social media outreach, but found that roofers weren’t the only businesses that needed help with this form of advertising.

Lancaster-based Dr. Jordan Balencic and his wife Tessa have developed a ready-to-drink, dairy-alternative beverage that contains walnut milk and other clinically studied superfoods proven to have beneficial properties for brain health called BrainMilk. To further their efforts, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a State College-based seed and economic development nonprofit organization, has invested $51,025.

A recent report released by the Brookings Institution points out that government and business leaders in Pennsylvania need to take a more proactive role in promoting and cultivating its innovation sector to stay competitive with other states.