Skills such as collaboration, creativity, problem solving and adaptability are sought-after by every industry now, but will certainly be necessary for the entire workforce in the age of Industry 4.0. A resource that is available to all local businesses and industry is Penn State New Kensington’s innovation hub, The Corner. One of 21 Invent Penn State hubs across the Commonwealth, The Corner provides a modern and unique space open for you to take advantage of workshops and training, mentors and flexible office space opportunities and solutions. The Corner is also available to use for meeting or event space.
The Corner Launchbox, an Invent Penn State initiative, provides signature programming at
The Corner.
Both programs teach valuable skills integral to the Industry 4.0 movement, regardless of the intent to start a business.
The Corner's Partner Organizations
Individuals, businesses and industry will also find access to The Corner’s partner organizations including Pittsburgh’s Innovation Works, business coaches and mentors, and legal assistance through Penn State Law’s Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic and Intellectual Property Clinic.
Penn State New Kensington’s Office of Continuing Education provides a variety of professional and non-credit training opportunities to supplement and augment workforce development. Throughout the year, training and education occurs on campus, in the community and at business locations. Topics include: project management, financial skills, manufacturing skills (CAD software, OSHA, LEAN, ISO, industrial math), leadership, management principles, Microsoft Office, web design and data collection.
Office of Continuing Education
Patricia Hollinger, Director
724-334-6053
Through a unique partnership with local government, foundation support and corporate partners Nextovation’s goals for the Digital Foundry at New Kensington include:
Serving the Industry 4.0 Needs of
Local Business and Industry
The lab will be a regional center for teaching and learning related to the technological advances being made throughout industries; serve to upgrade worker skill sets needed by companies to adapt to new technologies; and be a resource for companies in overcoming challenges through problem solving in the digital age.
Serving the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The space will serve as a living laboratory where local entrepreneurs and makers can use a “factory” space to create, incubate and launch products and services. The objective will be to attract, retain and create businesses in the New Kensington area and offer employment to local residents.
Workforce Development
The lab will offer a dedicated place for hands-on training related to jobs in an Industry 4.0 environment. With new technology, the skills needed by the workforce will constantly shift, requiring continual learning. The lab will be a regional center for raising awareness and educating local industry of technological advances being made, as well as upgrading worker skill sets needed by companies to adapt to the new technologies.
Future Workforce Development
The lab will serve as an asset for the 14 school districts who are part of Penn State New Kensington’s ABC CREATE collaborative effort, to enhance innovation and Industry 4.0 skill sets in students aged kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as college students. This will also provide a new opportunity for companies and community members to work with students to explore innovative solutions to Rust Belt and rural challenges in relation to adoption of digital technologies and skill sets.
Digital Foundry at New Kensington’s Unique Focus
Filling a niche, the Digital Foundry at New Kensington will focus on digital twinning, as well as other virtual and cloud-based computer technologies. A digital twin is a modern and more comprehensive term for a computer model and virtual simulation of a product, machine or process. The digital representation contains valuable data that can predict behavior of a physical item, machine or process. Businesses who explore and incorporate digital twinning may benefit from reducing costs and improving efficiency before resources are spent on product development, manufacturing or implementation.
The Digital Foundry at New Kensington is made possible thanks to support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Penn State New Kensington, the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County and Siemens.
Digital Foundry at New Kensington Partner Organizations
The DI Lab is made possible thanks to support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Penn State New Kensington and Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland County and Siemens.
Sherri McCleary, Executive Director