About the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin Northeast) creates and retains highly paid, sustainable jobs by investing in and linking companies with experts, universities, follow-on funding and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. It is part of a four-center economic development initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.

Ben Franklin Northeast’s strategy is to promote, sustain, and invest in the development of our regional economy through innovation and partnering. Our strategy encompasses three key areas.

  1. Developing and growing early-stage technology-oriented companies 
  2. Supporting established manufacturers as they creatively apply new technology to help them succeed globally by developing new products and processes, improving productivity, and expanding capacity; and
  3. Promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that supports Pennsylvania’s business technology ecosystem.

Since beginning operations in 1983, Ben Franklin Northeast has typically been among the top 5% of the most active investors in the U.S. and has helped to create 20,688 new jobs for Pennsylvania workers and to retain 56,268 existing jobs, to start 535 new companies, and to develop 2,456 new products and processes. Since 2007, Ben Franklin Northeast clients have generated more than $1.7 billion in follow-on funding. The Pennsylvania Ben Franklin Technology Partners network has returned $3.90 to the state treasury for every $1.00 invested in the program.

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania owns, manages, and is headquartered in Ben Franklin TechVentures®, an award-winning business incubator/post-incubator facility on Lehigh University’s campus in Bethlehem. Ben Franklin Northeast also owns and manages the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center. Applying more than 38 years of experience and two international awards for excellence in business incubation, Ben Franklin Northeast leads a 14-member business incubator network that is among the largest in the nation.