Gov. Wolf launches student, manufacturer fellowship program to promote innovation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday the launch of a new fellowship program designed to join the state’s best undergraduate and graduate students with local manufacturers to support technology development and advance innovation throughout Pennsylvania.

“While exploring all the ways in which we could advance technology and innovation in the manufacturing sector, we realized that some of our best resources are the minds and enthusiasm of our students,” Wolf said. “By helping connect these students with manufacturers and giving them a real-world application for their research, we’re giving manufacturing companies greater ability to harness young talent to develop transformative new processes and technology.”

The fellowship program is open to students through any accredited Pennsylvania college or university and will connect them to local manufacturing companies. The program will also provide research funding for projects designed to develop new products and systems for the sponsoring company.

Universities that have partnered with a company can apply for and receive between $25,000 and $70,000 in funding for specific student projects. Award notices for selected projects are expected to be issued at the end of July.

Connecting students with career pathways has been a top priority for Wolf’s administration. This fellowship program is one of three components of the governor’s Manufacturing PA Initiative, which was launched in October 2017. The initiative was started as a push to not only train students for any job but for careers that provide higher pay and opportunities for advancement as well as build a 21st-century workforce.