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Villanova Receives Part of $3 Million Funding for Advanced Tech Higher Education

PITTSBURGH – Governor Edward G. Rendell said today that 13 colleges and universities will be able to add to their faculty and develop the next generation of research and development through grants from the Keystone Innovation Starter Kit program.

The Governor announced more than $3 million in funding for Pennsylvania’s colleges, universities and research institutions that will have both short- and long-term effects in disciplines such as neuroengineering, biotechnology, coal-to-liquid conversion and drug design.

“Infrastructure and commercialization are essential components of scientific research, but education is the catalyst that drives it forward,” Governor Rendell said. “The funding allocated today could lead to discoveries that may transform industries like healthcare, alternative energy, transportation and homeland security in ways we can’t yet imagine.”

The Keystone Innovation Starter Kit initiative is designed to recruit top faculty researchers in crucial advanced knowledge areas to universities throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, discretionary funds can also be used by researchers to develop labs, staff and equipment in order to leverage private funding for their research. The program is a component of Governor Rendell’s Job Ready PA initiative, which focuses $100 million on the strategic development of the state’s skilled workforce.

In addition, the Keystone Innovation Starter Kit program is directly linked to the successful Keystone Innovation Zone program, which provides funding for community/university partnerships to generate job growth through technology transfer and entrepreneurship. Since the inception of the Keystone Innovation Zone program, more than $11 million has been invested in 29 KIZs across Pennsylvania. This has led to the creation of 2,360 jobs, the retention of 3,253 jobs, the formation of 187 new companies and the leveraging of $416.5 million in new investments.

In his remarks, Governor Rendell also discussed the need to enact his proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, which would further improve research facilities throughout Pennsylvania.

“Since 2003, we have created an economic climate contributing to advances in scientific and technological research. The Jonas Salk Legacy Fund would dramatically improve that climate, and at no additional cost to taxpayers,” Governor Rendell continued.

A component of Governor Rendell’s Protecting Our Progress strategy, the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund would provide $1 billion to construct new facilities for health-related research across the state, and help to energize the research community around exciting new facilities in Pennsylvania. In the Governor’s proposal, commonwealth tobacco settlement funds will cover 50 percent of development costs.

Presently, there are more than $750 million in construction projects that would start this calendar year if the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund is enacted by the General Assembly.

Governor Rendell also is calling for passage of his $850 million energy independence strategy; launching “Rebuilding Pennsylvania” to repair the state’s aging infrastructure; replenishing funding for the Business in Our Sites program; adding $10 million to the infrastructure development program; and, extending the keystone opportunity zone program.

Listing of KISK award recipients:
Carnegie Mellon University $250,000 Greater Oakland KIZ

Drexel University $225,000 University City KIZ

East Stroudsburg University $82,800 Pocono Mountains KIZ

Franklin and Marshall College $164,933 Northwest Lancaster KIZ

Marywood University $200,000 Lackawanna/Luzerne KIZ

Saint Francis University $34,800 Greater Johnstown KIZ

Pennsylvania State University $200,000 Tri-County KIZ

Pennsylvania State University $500,000 I-99 / Navy Yard KIZ

Pennsylvania State University $250,000 Harrisburg KIZ
Milton Hershey

The Wistar Institute $192,696 University City KIZ

University of Pennsylvania $400,000 University City KIZ

University of the Sciences $250,000 University City KIZ
in Philadelphia

Villanova University $250,000 Delaware County KIZ

For additional information on any of the Keystone Innovation Starter Kits program, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.