Center of Excellence for Engineering Innovation
Bucknell’s SBDC is recognized as a statewide Center of Excellence for Engineering Innovation by the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers.
Bucknell's SBDC provides specialized innovation, engineering, and concept development services to small businesses in partnership with Bucknell's College of Engineering. We have access to resources and technology such as computer-aided design (CAD) software, engineering laboratories and 3D printing.
We also guide entrepreneurs through a customer discovery and product/service planning process to maximize the chances of a successful market launch. These Innovation Workshops accelerate a highly engaged client's innovation journey by identifying problem areas, delivering possible solutions and 'prototyping' 1–3 alternatives for the client to test with customers.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact the SBDC that serves your county in Pennsylvania, and engage a business consultant for assistance in assessing the market for your product, and developing a plan for how you will bring it to your customers.
When your business is at the right stage to benefit from innovation and engineering services, your business consultant will guide you through our referral form.
1. Desirability / Viability / Feasibility
This framework is a solid foundation for the start of a product or service. Each of these areas is essential to the success of the project. One or two of them will not be enough.
2. Product Development Phases
If you think you have your arms around the "desirability" framework, these are ways to think about the next steps.
3. Class-based & Grant-funded Projects
We can support an engineering project with individual students. There are two more ways for Bucknell to help you achieve your engineering projects:
- A capstone project undertaken by a class of seniors.
- Grant funding for product development is available through programs such as the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership and the Manufacturing PA Innovation Program.
4. Licensing Your Idea
If you have an invention and would like to create income by licensing it, we have some suggestions for you.
Engineering Innovation Projects
 Runlites: |  Vargo Outdoors: |
 Gilson: |  Harmony Turbines: |