Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)
Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) supports Pennsylvania businesses with technical assistance, energy assessments, and university connections to solve challenges and improve competitiveness.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates: December 31, 2026 (DCED funding application—Penn State only)
Funding Amounts: Limited free technical assistance; no-cost energy and operational assessments; DCED funding varies
Summary: PennTAP helps Pennsylvania businesses resolve technical challenges, improve competitiveness, and connect with university expertise and funding resources.
Key Information: Businesses request assistance from PennTAP; The Pennsylvania State University is the sole applicant for DCED operating funding.
Description
The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) is a Penn State program funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). It helps Pennsylvania companies improve competitiveness through practical technical assistance and connections to relevant expertise, resources, and programs. Its focus is smaller and entrepreneurial businesses that lack the expertise or resources to resolve technical issues internally. Technical advisors are distributed across Pennsylvania and connected to Penn State campus communities.
Support covers advanced information technology, environmental compliance, energy efficiency and conservation, operations improvement, occupational safety and health, and product development. PennTAP also assists with federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer proposal development, technology transfer, and commercialization. Its current services include energy and operational assessments, assistance identifying energy grants and rebates, and connections to students, faculty, research facilities, and funded collaborations.
