Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day 2023
We’ll be there! Stop by our booth to learn more about PennSTART, Innovation Accelerators, financing programs, leasing space and more. Pittsburgh Robotics Discovery Day is November 16 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. This event showcases the region’s cutting-edge robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) innovations. Attendees will get to meet the people building […]
Michael Baker International Named the Program Management Consultant for PennSTART
Michael Baker International has been named the Program Management Consultant for PennSTART, a collaborative effort between RIDC, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Westmoreland County, and Carnegie Mellon University to develop a state-of-the-art facility envisioned to benefit emergency responders, transportation technology companies, and research institutions while supporting the local economy. The firm will develop a master plan for […]
Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory, AlphaLab Coming to RIDC Tech Forge
Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory and AlphaLab accelerator programs will be making their new home at RIDC Tech Forge. Media Coverage: Pittsburgh Inno – Robotics Factory, AlphaLab accelerators moving into former site used by Locomation in Lawrenceville Technical.ly – Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory is moving to Robotics Row Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Lawrenceville is Pittsburgh Robotics Factory’s […]
Pilot Customers are a Crucial Step Toward Commercialization as Innovation Companies Test Their Products
The road from innovation to commercialization is a challenging one. But it’s made easier when early-stage companies have opportunities to work with pilot customers — partnerships with larger users, ranging from government to large companies and organizations, that are willing to work with them to test the real-world applications of their products and services. It’s […]
Smith’s Viewpoint: Innovation + manufacturing = jobs
“Manufacturing is where the jobs are. Pennsylvania needs to position itself as a magnet for expanding companies when they are ready to build the large facilities that are necessary to manufacture products at scale and bring them to market.” But we’re lagging behind. More of the latest insight from RIDC President Donald Smith.
Video: Carnegie Robotics
Very cool video about Carnegie Robotics. The former Heppenstall building in Lawrenceville, a 50,000 square-foot heavy industrial high-bay facility, was built out for Carnegie Robotics, a spin-off from the nearby National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC). This industrial renovation project was recognized in 2017 by NAIOP as one of the top reuse projects in North America. The […]
Major Pittsburgh region projects to move forward in 2023: PennSTART, Carrie Furnace, RIDC Mill 19 become growth engines
The coming year promises to be full of progress as major projects move forward in the Pittsburgh region. Long-dormant, former industrial sites are positioned to become centers of economic development and job creation. Article can be read in full at our Pittsburgh’s Innovation Economy content hub at the Pittsburgh Business Times (formerly named Pittsburgh’s Autonomy […]
RIDC President Named Member of the Innovation Subcommittee of Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro’s Economic Development Transition Committee
Donald F. Smith, Jr. has been named a member of the Innovation Subcommittee of Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro’s Economic Development Transition Committee. The committee will review current policies and make recommendations about how to spur innovation, grow the economy and support the creation of high-quality jobs. As RIDC’s President, Smith has played a leadership role in […]
RIDC Winter Newsletter 2022
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Pittsburgh’s Recent Federal Funding and VC and Private-Equity Tech Investment
The Southwestern Pennsylvania region is moving forward with tangible activities to help the autonomous technology sector grow and create jobs: $62.7 million in federal funding will help Pittsburgh grow its autonomy sector. And in this year’s third quarter, venture capital investment in Pittsburgh’s tech sector totaled $171.96 million across 19 local firms: Pittsburgh bucks national […]
Gov. Wolf Signs Driverless Vehicle Legislation into Law & Other Autonomy News
This new law permitting driverless vehicles on public roads is a big win for the autonomous vehicle industry in Pittsburgh and a necessary step towards commercializing this tech and remaining competitive. Pennsylvania joins over a dozen states that permit similar testing arrangements, as reported by Pittsburgh Inno. There’ve been a number of recent stories involving […]
Smith’s Viewpoint: What’s Next for that $62.7 Million?
“And now our region will be moving forward with tangible activities to help the autonomy industry grow and create jobs — not only in R&D, but in manufacturing and in an entire supply chain of industries. The spotlight is shining in our direction — every entity involved will need to rise to the challenge and […]
Pittsburgh Inno: Autonomous Technologies Trailblazing in Space
Pittsburgh’s space robotics cluster has strong ties to university talent and has received NASA funding for projects that heavily focus on autonomous systems. Article written for Pittsburgh Inno and can be read in full here.
Pittsburgh Robotics Network’s Industry Happy Hour at Tech Forge
Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Robotics Network hosted a Pittsburgh Tech Happy Hour at Caterpillar Pittsburgh Automation Center in RIDC’s Tech Forge on Robotics Row in Lawrenceville. The networking event was a hit with 500+ attendees.
Austin Business Journal: Shared Facilities Make Testing of Autonomous Vehicles More Practical and Cost Effective
Government partnerships are key to making strides in economic development, and a major project to support the growing autonomous vehicle industry has just been greenlighted in the Pittsburgh region. More on the PennSTART project happening in Westmoreland County. Article written for the Austin Business Journal and can be read in full here. Other articles written […]
Southwestern PA to Receive $62.7 Million to Boost Autonomy Economy
The funding “will enable us to knit [assets] together into a cohesive system and add some resources for activities that have been underfunded historically,” including building a more diverse talent pool of workers, said Donald Smith, RIDC President. Smith was part of the steering committee that applied for the federal grant. The development corporation, along […]
PennDOT, Pa. Turnpike, RIDC of Southwestern PA to Collaborate on State-of-the-Art Safety, Training and Research Facility
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Yassmin Gramian announced that the department, the Pa. Turnpike Commission, and the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) of Southwestern PA are partnering on site planning and design for the Pennsylvania Safety, Transportation and Research Track, or PennSTART – a state-of-the-art facility envisioned to benefit emergency responders, transportation technology companies, […]
Austin Business Journal: Self-driving cars, autonomous tech lead region from industrial past to innovation economy
Fast-growing companies from some of the strongest tech regions in the country are recognizing the attributes that make regions like Pittsburgh attractive. RIDC’s full article with the Austin Business Journal can be read in full here. Other articles written by RIDC for the Austin Business Journal: Robotics, AI, self-driving cars: The innovation economy requires real […]
Smith’s Viewpoint: Pennsylvania’s CNI Tax Rate Cut is Just a Start
“Our region and our state have many attributes, but there are going to be tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in potential revenue we could realize if we show the same innovative spirit and determination in our policymaking that our entrepreneurs and business leaders show every day in creating and building their […]
Which New Startups Will Bring the Next Generation of Technology to Life
The Pittsburgh region is second only to Detroit-Ann Arbor in concentration of market leaders, with more up-and-coming startups and early-stage companies being added to the roster. The latest from our Pittsburgh Autonomy Economy hub. More from Pittsburgh’s Autonomy Economy.
Finish Robotics Robot Paints 115,000 sq.ft. at RIDC Westmoreland
RIDC is more than just a commercial real estate developer and landlord—we’re pilot customers, too, and help early-stage companies with product validation and user feedback. Finish Robotics, a Carnegie Mellon spinoff that’s developed autonomous robots to paint tall buildings and handle other finish level tasks with the aim of addressing the construction industry’s growing shortage of […]
