Small Business Development Center
Program Overview
Small Business Development Center Home Page
The College of Engineering provides space for the only SBDC in Pennsylvania that supports new product development. Bucknell's SBDC is unique in that it has Engineering Development Services in which inventors can get a prototype made in the College of Engineering's machine shop. In fact, it is the only SBDC operating as part of a university engineering program. Product development work consists of prototype design, re-design, construction, testing and commercialization. Other engineering tasks include tutoring clients on specialized subject matter, such as structure design that will withstand earthquake shocks; designing, constructing and testing special machines for producing products; and constructing molds for manufacturing plastic parts.
In addition to providing product development services, the center assists with the writing of business plans, computerized patent searches, feasibility and marketing surveys and proposal writing. The SBDC provides free counseling for small businesses in a 10 county region. Bucknell faculty and staff members serve as counselors with student assistance when appropriate. Outside consultants are hired when special problems arise. The SBDC is financed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Ben Franklin Partnership Program, and Bucknell University.
Since its inception at Bucknell in 1978, the Bucknell SBDC has contributed to the professional development of the staff and faculty, provided consulting opportunities for summer support of faculty members, has employed graduate and undergraduate students in situations that foster learning and has served to bring significant income to the University for the purchase of equipment.
Since 1978, 80 Bucknell faculty and 465 Bucknell students have been directly involved with industrial projects. Bucknell has received research and development grants from the Ben Franklin Partnership, a statewide program to link industry, academia and government. Many of these projects involve engineering students in industrial research and development problems.
The director of the SBDC is Prof. Charles Knisely of the mechanical engineering department.
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