Specialties
As global competition increases and sales markets become increasingly difficult to penetrate, many businesses are pursuing specializations to distinguish themselves. We likewise have a number of distinguished specializations, and our consultants are focused on addressing your particular needs with expertise and innovation. Contact us to learn more about our specialized services.
Research
Our consultants employ a wide variety of resources to help you obtain the timely, relevant and detailed information you need to make sound business decisions.
Business Basics
The SBDC can assist you with evaluating a business idea, developing a business plan, creating a market strategy and identifying the steps necessary to start a business.
Product Development
The SBDC assists with technical assessments and preliminary patent searches for new product development. After establishing initial feasibility, we can assist you with:
- Access to engineering design
- Prototyping
- Testing
Our Product Development Center helps inventors bring products to market by offering engineering services early in the development cycle, before major investment is attracted. With the help of engineering students, faculty and special resources, our skilled staff performs patent searches, assist with technical appraisals, conduct brainstorming sessions, evaluate and review design options, source component suppliers, and provide computer aided design.
Environmental Management Assistance Program
The Environmental Management Assistance Program offers confidential compliance assistance with environmental and health and safety regulations, on-site assessments to look for opportunities to cut costs through pollution prevention and energy efficiency, and assistance developing and marketing environmental technology.
Government Marketing Assistance Program
We work with clients to identify opportunities in government markets and provide assistance with registration and qualification as a bidder. To help you sell to federal, state, local and quasi-government agencies, we provide:
- A computerized bid lead program
- Assistance in marketing products and services to the government
- Proposal preparation support
Contract compliance advice
We can save you time and money by matching your business’ goods and services with bids and leads published in the Commerce Business Daily and The Pennsylvania Bulletin, as well as requests for small bids from the Defense Logistics Agency and various other government agencies.
Technology Commercialization Assistance Program
The Technology Commercialization Assistance Program assists high growth and technology firms with sophisticated business management issues including alternative financing, human resources, patents and trade marking, intellectual property, and product commercialization. Cooperating with their host institutions, we also help US Department of Defense contractors locate markets outside of the Department of Defense.
International Business Assistance Program
Working with the International Business Center, we can help you become a successful competitor in foreign markets or expand your existing foreign presence. To help companies export Pennsylvania products and services, we will assist in:
- Assessing your international trade readiness
- Evaluating your products or services for export potential
- Identifying the best foreign market opportunities
- Developing strategic and marketing plans
- Identifying foreign sales agents and distributors
- Planning market entry strategies
- Explaining international trade procedures and regulations
- Providing information on technical standards and export/import documentation
- Determining sources of trade financing and risk management
- Identifying trade mission and trade show opportunities
- Determining import restrictions, duties, and tariffs
SBDC Program Funders:
