On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced legislation that would establish public-private partnerships between universities and engineering entities.
Sponsored by state Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Bridgeville), the legislation, SB 497, would establish a grant and loan program focusing on infrastructure and innovation. Robinson said the collaborations between state universities and private engineering entities would help develop programs to fund shared research facilities and equipment. Additionally, the program would create incentives to attract high-technology industries for advanced manufacturing in the state.
“Pennsylvania’s workforce is one of the most productive on the planet,” Robinson, the chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, said. “With enactment of Senate Bill 497, we can attract even more innovative and entrepreneurial experts to our commonwealth by providing support for technology advancement.”
The bill would establish the Max Manufacturing Initiative Fund and the Max Manufacturing Endeavor Loan Fund that would administer loans and grants to eligible applicants to maximize research capabilities at universities, while promoting stronger business alliances and creating well-paying jobs, Robinson said in a memo to his legislative colleagues.
“The Max Manufacturing Initiative Act has the potential to establish Pennsylvania and its university and business partnerships as international leaders in the development, testing, and implementation of cutting-edge advances in science and technology,” he wrote. “The manufacturing industry in the Unites States produces more than four trillion dollars annually, and we have seen this industry turn to innovation and collaboration to meet its needs. I am looking forward to seeing this legislation become law to assist this important industry.”
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives.