Keystone State Tech Sector is Popping to Start 2025

We have more than just the dominant world champion Eagles to hang our hat on here in Pennsylvania.  When it comes to the technology sector, our Commonwealth is cranking.  

Let’s take a quick look at a few technology-fueled developments that have been reported already in 2025. 

Engineering Technology:  The numerous Keystone Staters racking up engineering technology manufacturing scholarships will be among those leading the rebirth of American manufacturing.  Students from the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s School of Engineering Technologies have earned an impressive share of the scholarships awarded by SparkForce, the charitable foundation of the Illinois-based Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.  Since 2021, students at the Penn State affiliate have earned 78 of the 331 scholarships offered nationally to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in a certificate or degree program leading to a manufacturing career. 

AI for Healing:  The New England Journal of Medicine published a paper detailing how  researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school used artificial intelligence to save the life of a patient with idiopathic multicentric Castleman’s disease (iMCD).   The disease has an “especially poor survival rate” but an AI tool combed through 4,000 existing medications and discovered one that saved this particular patient’s life.  This is particularly welcome news as few treatment options have been available for iMCD.  This patient could be the first of many to have their lives saved by a machine learning prediction system, and there is hope this research may have a positive impact for patients with other rare conditions as well.  Tech-fueled healthcare and biotech advancements in Pennsylvania continue unabated. 

Tech Manufacturing:  Meanwhile federal grants of $172 million through the Chips and Science Act have been granted to Pennsylvania companies that test, develop, and produce new technologies.  These grants will fund projects supporting over 800 manufacturing jobs and additional construction employment is anticipated as well.  

Sparking Youthful Interest: With all this growth in the sector it is never too early to develop the next generation of technologists.  PBS Member Station WITF-TV is doing their part, bringing the STEM-focused Ready, Set, Explore program to libraries, museums, and other venues, most recently here in Reading.  This engaging program introduces students to coding, AI, and other technologies in an age-appropriate manner using PBS characters that many children are familiar with.  

It’s been a bang-up start to the year for the technology sector in 2025 and we’re here for it.