Industrial Research Office

For Industry Partners

The Industrial Research Office is your window to Penn State research.  Staff members have both an engineering background and industry experience.  We understand your problems, speak your language, and can help you find the right solutions.

According to the NSF, Penn State is ranked #3 in the nation for industry-sponsored research. Out of the $717 million total research expenditures in FY 2008, $105 million were from industry-sponsored and private research.  Also in FY 2008, the IRO staff facilitated 164 projects with 44 companies, totaling $18.7 million in industry-sponsored research.

The IRO specializes in providing personal attention to:

• Identify Research Expertise: We will listen to your needs and identify the appropriate faculty expertise, research centers or institutes to address your problems. You can also search our research center directory.
• Arrange Meetings with Faculty: We will arrange and moderate introductory sessions with single or multiple researchers.
  Organize Workshops: We can help your company organize industry-relevant workshops at Penn State.
• IP Concerns: Our staff and contract negotiator will address any of your intellectual property questions and concerns.
• Identify Funding Opportunities: We can help your company identify federal funding opportunities such as the NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI).

Our experienced contracts negotiator can help you initiate a single contract to pursue solutions to a particular problem and we can also customize a long-term Master Agreement to expedite multiple activities efficiently, without need of renegotiation.
Click here for industry contracts information