“We’re using robotics and software to help change the way critical industries like defense, manufacturing, and energy production build and operate. And none of that would have been possible without the unique ecosystem we have in western PA. We have a huge opportunity to build an unstoppable economic engine, bringing government and entrepreneurs together to solve real-world problems.”
Key Industries
Welcome to the birthplace of artificial intelligence and a global hub for robotics.
Pennsylvania’s pioneering legacy is closely linked to Carnegie Mellon University, where the field of AI was invented and the world’s first doctoral program in robotics was founded. Today, companies across the state are trailblazing innovations in autonomous vehicles, space exploration, advanced manufacturing, precision medicine, and beyond.
Home to two of the nation’s top 10 universities for robotics, Pennsylvania is a magnet for top talent in the field. Companies here benefit from cutting-edge R&D institutions, a strong network of venture capital opportunities, and billions of dollars in federal funding through the CHIPS Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act. We’re staying ahead of the curve to build breakthrough technologies that will redefine industries.
Companies like Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic are already proving that in the Commonwealth, the sky’s not the limit — it’s just the beginning. With $4 million in state funding to expand their headquarters, they’re leading innovation in space robotics for lunar and planetary missions. The next decade in Pennsylvania promises even more growth, with nearly 17,000 net new jobs projected across our robotics and technology industries. Bring your business here to push the boundaries of possibility.
— Jake Loosararian, Co-founder and CEO, Gecko Robotics (Pittsburgh)
In the News: PA Robotics
Pittsburgh-based Gecko Robotics a shining example of PA's thriving robotics ecosystem
Gecko Robotics is a national leader in using robotics and software to build, operate, and maintain the world’s most important physical infrastructure and was recently named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Pennsylvania has supported Gecko’s growth over the last decade, seeding it with $10,000 from Ben Franklin Technology Partners in 2014 to help co-founder Jake Loosararian build one of the company's first robots.
Shapiro Administration invests millions in Astrobotic Technology, helping the space and robotics company expand
Astrobotic — a Pittsburgh-based robotics company working with NASA on technology for planned lunar missions — received $4.38 million in investments fron the Shapiro Administration to help the company expand. Astrobotic is renovating a new $20 million "space campus" that will create 283 new, high-tech jobs and retain 174 employees and currently boasts over 180 Pennsylvania suppliers.
#1 AI Program in the U.S. (Carnegie Mellon University)
U.S. News & World Report, 2025Notable PA Businesses
Funding & Resources
See some of of the many programs and resources available to robotics and technology businesses in Pennsylvania.
The BFTP are a national model for technology-based economic development programs. BFTP provides both early-stage, technology-based firms and established manufacturers with funding, business and technical expertise, and access to a network of innovative, expert resources.
University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Center for Innovation facilitates technology transfer from university research to the private sector through licensing, R&D alliances, and other commercial partnering opportunities. Opportunities exist in a broad range of sectors, including nanotechnology, electronic materials, robotics, computer information systems, bioengineering, medical devices, and more.
The Pittsburgh Robotics Network connects industry with robotics leaders, and stakeholders to accelerate opportunities for business growth and the adoption of robotic solutions and artificial intelligence technologies.
Operating within the CMU Robotics Institute, the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) is a technology transfer organization that designs, develops, and tests robotic systems and vehicles for industrial and government clients. The NREC combines systems engineering disciplines of requirements and trades analysis, design, simulation, integration and testing with applied research capabilities in autonomy, sensing and unmanned platform design. The NREC excels in rapid integration and field-testing of automated systems and several of their systems have transitioned to industry and the military.
The ARM Institute is a public-private partnership bringing together more than 300 organizations across industry, government, and academia to drive the use of industrial robots to strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector. Key industrial sectors include aerospace, automotive, electronics, and textiles.
The Industrial Resource Centers are a network of seven private, nonprofits located strategically throughout the state to provide localized support. The network works with manufacturers to respond to changing market conditions, adopt new technology, and on creating strategies to remain competitive in today’s global economy.