One of the hallmarks of the BFTP/NEP program is the partnerships we build among private sector manufacturers and professors and researchers at higher education institutions.

We consider colleges and universities to be vital assets, and we actively seek experts in appropriate fields, developing long-term relationships with them that typically span multiple projects. The academic specialists bring expertise, an outside perspective, access to laboratories and equipment, and students to provide both specific technical capabilities and an extra pair of hands dedicated to strategic activities.

Over the course of several years, a single professor or research engineer may work on very similar projects with a number of different companies, thus giving him or her the opportunity to share non-proprietary knowledge gained from previous projects. BFTP/NEP projects often take advantage of university partnerships when companies require additional resources to complete technically oriented projects.

Projects  with established manufacturers require clients utilize a university partner; projects with early-stage firms may use a university partner, but are not required to do so. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania will work with any institute of higher learning located in Pennsylvania.

The professors and research engineers with whom we work bring expertise in areas such as industrial engineering, materials selection and testing, chemical engineering, machine and product design, software customization and manufacturing processes.