Madison Kwiecinski 

News Editor 

Mvk5945@psu.edu 

On March 11, 2022, Penn State Behrend received an endowment that will go towards promoting innovation on the campus. A $2.1 million endowment will benefit the school’s Innovation Commons. 

Jacob Marsh, the Industry Coordinator at Penn State Behrend stated, “This is a really exciting opportunity for us and for other students. This Investment makes it possible for us to continue helping entrepreneurs and industry in the region for all the years to come.”

The endowment will go towards providing several services that will increase innovation on campus and improve Innovation Commons. Funding will go towards industry 4.0 training, computer-aided drafting, no cost 3D printing, and several other services. 

Since the innovation lab opened in 2016, more than 240 projects have been supported by Innovation Commons. Innovation Commons has helped to create at least 14 new companies, with an additional 12 patent applications so far. 

Innovation Commons is a product design and prototyping lab. The site was also the first Northwestern Pennsylvania Innovation Beehive Network, which consists of a partnership of institutions in the Erie area.  

Amy Bridger, the Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and External Engagement, said, “Innovation Commons is the embodiment of our Open Lab approach to engaging students with business and innovators as part of the undergraduate experience.” 

The endowment Innovation Commons is receiving was created through several private and corporate gifts, which totaled a value of more than $1.06 million. Penn State’s LaunchBox Matching Program  matches donations 1:1, bringing the total endowment for Innovation Commons to $2.13 million. 

The largest donation, made by a private donor, inspired the name of the lab, which will be titled the James R. Meehl Innovation Commons powered by Penn State Behrend. The Meehl family has had a strong tie with the Behrend campus since James Meehl’s grandson, Aaron Meehl, attended the university as a 2012 graduate over a decade ago now. 

Chancellor Ralph Ford Stated, “We are deeply appreciative of the private and corporate gifts that established this endowment, which will enhance the services offered at Innovation Commons and expand opportunities to even more startup companies.”