DCED Funding
This graph shows funds allocated to the Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED) from the state’s General Fund, by year. This is part of the annual budget proposed by the Governor and altered or approved by the General Assembly. The three DCED programs highlighted—the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Manufacture PA, and Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP)—are central to fostering the Commonwealth’s entrepreneurial community and emerging technology companies, often providing necessary capital before the private market can feasibly be expected to step in.
Note re Small Business Assistance/PREP (red series): In FY 2011, Industrial Development Assistance Local Development Districts, Small Business Development Centers, and Industrial Resource Centers were consolidated into Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP).
Note re Manufacturing PA (green series): In FY 2017-18, the Manufacturing PA line item was created at $12M. That line includes the Industrial Resource Centers (IRCs). As a result of the IRCs being moved out of the PREP line item, coupled with the creation of a new program within the PREP line, the overall appropriation for PREP was reduced by $2M, but its programs were not negatively impacted.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

Welcome to Pennsylvania's Innovation Economy Dashboard. This dashboard, along with the report: Pennsylvania's Innovation Economy Annual Report (May 2021), was developed by students at Carnegie Mellon University. The information here focuses on translating new ideas into jobs, developing and maintaining a talented workforce, and connecting workers to jobs--to keep our state prosperous, competitive, and supportive of all Pennsylvanians.

Milken State Technology & Science Index Rankings
The Milken State Technology and Science provides a simple glance at how Pennsylvania is doing relative to other states. The Index considers 106 indicators across R&D inputs, risk capital and entrepreneurial infrastructure, human capital investment, technology and science workforce, and technology concentration and dynamism. Though there are some areas the Milken Index does not account for.
Data Source : Milken Institute

While STEM graduates aren't the only contributors to PA’s innovation economy, the number of STEM degrees awarded each year serves as a proxy for the labor pool’s interests and its level of skill development and sophistication (Milken 2018 Report).
As businesses grow in PA, they need skilled and well-educated workers who are prepared for the innovation economy. STEM degree programs help equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to enter the workforce and be successful in a tech-driven, global economy. (PA Department of Education).
Note about data: This table presents data collected from Title IV institutions in the United States. Prior to 2009-10, the data include only Title IV primarily postsecondary institutions.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS),Completions component final data (2001-02 - 2017-18) and provisional data(2018-19).