Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (Ben Franklin Northeast) announced that $4.8 million in federal funding has been approved to support the TechVentures Lab Initiative, an investment that will expand laboratory capacity for early-stage companies in life sciences, microelectronics and related technology fields.

The funding was approved through the fiscal year 2026 federal appropriations process and was publicly listed by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick as part of more than $270 million in federal funding for projects across Pennsylvania.

Ben Franklin TechVentures is the company’s innovation center in Bethlehem, located at 116 Research Drive. The 129,000-square-foot facility provides specialized space and hands-on business support to help technology start-ups launch and grow.

The expansion project will convert more than 10,000 square feet of existing space into additional wet labs and/or electronics labs, increasing available lab capacity by over 50% to meet exceptionally high demand. The project is designed to support emerging areas where life sciences and microelectronics increasingly overlap, including medical imaging, advanced materials, photonics and semiconductor design.

“We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from Senator McCormick and our local and regional partners in securing this funding,” said Angelo J. Valletta, president and CEO of Ben Franklin Northeast. “This investment is a big step forward for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s innovation economy. It helps us refresh and modernize the infrastructure entrepreneurs rely on, retain high-potential companies as they scale here in Pennsylvania, and reimagine how we support founders working at the intersection of life sciences and microelectronics.

“When start-ups are ready to grow, access to specialized lab space can be the difference between delaying progress and accelerating commercialization. This project will support the high-paying jobs that keep talent in Pennsylvania.”

Ben Franklin Northeast is an economic development organization that provides investment capital and business support to start-ups, manufacturers and business incubators across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

It works to refresh, retain and reimagine Pennsylvania’s innovation economy by creating high-paying and sustainable jobs throughout its 21-county region.

The statewide Ben Franklin Technology Partners network consists of four independent nonprofit organizations located in Bethlehem, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and State College. Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.