Abstract
The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), home of the Product Development Center (PDC), assists inventors and small firms in transforming their ideas into marketable products. The PDC combines traditional management services with the resources and expertise of a top-notch engineering department. The PDC provides assistance on various types of projects, including product design, prototype development, product testing, feasibility analysis, and process improvements. In response to the increasing demand for these services, the PDC has increased the number of engineering students employed in the Center. Since the SBDC is housed in the College of Engineering, students and engineering faculty work closely with industry counterparts in the design and development of new products. The Stage-GateTM process has been successfully implemented to create a multidisciplinary team approach to product development. The results have been remarkable, with measurable benefit to the College's educational mission and to private enterprise. This paper highlights the Bucknell University Product Development Center and how industry and education can collaborate most effectively to achieve excellent results.
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