Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced today that $4.8 million in federal funding has been approved to support the TechVentures® Lab Initiative, an investment that will expand laboratory capacity for early-stage companies in life sciences, microelectronics, and related technology fields.
The funding was approved through the FY26 federal appropriations process and was publicly listed by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick as part of more than $270 million in federal funding for projects across Pennsylvania.
Ben Franklin TechVentures® is the company’s innovation center in Bethlehem, located at 116 Research Drive. The 129,000-square-foot facility provides specialized space and hands-on business support to help technology startups launch and grow.
The expansion project will convert more than 10,000 square feet of existing space into additional wet labs and/or electronics labs, increasing available lab capacity by over 50% to meet exceptionally high demand. The project is designed to support emerging areas where life sciences and microelectronics increasingly overlap, including medical imaging, advanced materials, photonics, and semiconductor design.
“We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from Senator McCormick and our local and regional partners in securing this funding,” said Angelo J. Valletta, President and CEO of Ben Franklin Northeast. “This investment is a big step forward for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s innovation economy. It helps us refresh and modernize the infrastructure entrepreneurs rely on, retain high-potential companies as they scale here in Pennsylvania, and reimagine how we support founders working at the intersection of life sciences and microelectronics. When startups are ready to grow, access to specialized lab space can be the difference between delaying progress and accelerating commercialization. This project will support the high-paying jobs that keep talent in Pennsylvania.”