Through this program, we were able to partner with the Learning Factory to provide needed technical assistance to help move company ideas forward through design, proof-of-concept, and prototype assistance. Our partnership with the Learning Factory began in 2014 as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) “Discovered in PA, Developed in PA” (D2PA) program. Over the years, these engineering design capstone projects have provided proof-of-concept and prototype designs that have made a significant impact across the commonwealth.
These projects, scoped and presented by business sponsors, allow students to practically design or improve an idea that a business may not have the resources or manpower to tackle. We provide businesses and organizations across the state of Pennsylvania opportunities to engage with engineering students through Learning Factory projects. The Learning Factory provides Penn State undergraduate engineering students the opportunity to tackle real-world problems utilizing classroom engineering design knowledge and tools.