The Leveraging Innovation to Grow High Tech and University Partnerships (LIGHT UP) Collaborative is multi-institution collaborative grant including the following institutions: State University of New York College of Technology at Canton, Rowan College of Burlington County, Marymount University, Alvernia University, Kean University, and Bowie State University. This collaborative aims to establish a community of practice to develop and enhance a research and innovation ecosystem that capitalizes on external partnerships to shape the STEM talent pipeline and workforce development.
The LIGHT UP Collaborative, made up of six mid-Atlantic and Northeast institutions, represents a strategic region nationally in terms of STEM workforce development and industry clusters and is one of the most diverse regions in the country. The collaborative will make a significant impact on STEM industries by establishing a regional network to build capacity and capitalize on the strengths of each institution to advance research, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Efforts will result in the promotion of innovative teaching, learning, and training for both faculty and students. Extending student experience beyond research and discovery into real-world application contributes to advancing technological innovation and STEM workforce development. Linking research with entrepreneurship drives the innovation needed for our nation to remain globally competitive.
The LIGHT UP Collaborative project aims to advance a research-driven entrepreneurial enterprise and expand external partnerships. The project is designed to engage STEM students and faculty in a research-to-research entrepreneur full life-cycle approach to harness STEM talent in a regional innovation ecosystem that extends throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. The project will leverage each institution’s resources and expertise to develop and enhance an innovation research ecosystem and broaden current efforts in research commercialization and entrepreneurship.
The LIGHT UP Collaborative focuses on three goals that will:
expand and improve each institutions’ structural support systems for economic development initiatives;
build a platform to drive more industry and government partnerships; and
increase innovation enterprise development.
The LIGHT UP Collaborative will serve as a model for capacity building and partnership engagement through a community of practice.
Alvernia University
Alvernia University is using its LIGHT UP participation to scale applied research through its O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. The initiative supports student experiential learning, expands faculty-led projects, and strengthens partnerships with local industries and business incubator clients. The grant is also helping Alvernia expand its presence in downtown Reading through new spaces for business incubation and retail development, which are expected to contribute significantly to regional economic growth.
Bowie State University
Bowie State University, a historically Black university, is participating in LIGHT UP to amplify inclusive innovation efforts and extend its capacity in research and entrepreneurship. The university contributes to the collaborative’s goal of building a region-wide infrastructure to support emerging technology commercialization and strengthen connections with both industry and government. As part of this work, Bowie State helps model how minority-serving institutions can drive economic development through research-based academic partnerships.
Kean University
Kean University is leveraging its LIGHT UP participation to build an institutional infrastructure that supports translational research, technology licensing, and industry collaboration. The university is establishing an office of technology transfer and commercialization and aims to raise its research profile as part of a broader strategic goal to become a Carnegie R2 institution. Faculty leaders are focusing on turning faculty discoveries into commercial solutions while cultivating a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.
Marymount University
Marymount University supports the LIGHT UP Collaborative’s mission by contributing to the development of a robust research and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the mid-Atlantic region. Drawing on its strengths in student-focused teaching and proximity to national industry and government hubs, Marymount aims to bridge classroom learning with real-world application. While no dedicated institutional press release was available, the university’s involvement in LIGHT UP reflects its strategic investment in faculty innovation, student training, and cross-sector partnerships.
Rowan College of Burlington County
Rowan College at Burlington County is part of the LIGHT UP Collaborative’s effort to strengthen regional innovation and workforce ecosystems. While institution-specific media coverage is limited, RCBC’s role focuses on creating structural support for economic development initiatives and helping to build a platform for regional partnerships. Through the collaborative, the college contributes to a community of practice aimed at expanding research commercialization and fostering entrepreneurship across the mid-Atlantic region.
State University of New York College of Technology at Canton
As part of the LIGHT UP Collaborative, SUNY Canton is enhancing its innovation ecosystem by integrating research, entrepreneurship, and workforce development efforts across its academic programs. With a strong emphasis on applied learning, the college engages students in research projects in engineering, cybersecurity, and the social sciences, supported by dedicated faculty and labs such as the AISP Lab. The institution is also working to strengthen research administration, technology transfer, and commercialization practices, helping broaden participation in federal research across underrepresented and community-focused institutions.