#MakeItInPA: Governor Corbett Announces Grant Award to Carnegie Mellon's RE2, Inc. to Develop Innovative Robotic Technologies and Create 100 Jobs

Press Release

Continuing to advance his JOBS1st PA initiative, Governor Tom Corbett today announced the award of a $400,000 Discovered in PA -- Developed in PA (D2PA) grant to Robotics Engineering Excellence, Inc. (RE2), a leading developer of robotic manipulator arms, to launch a design for manufacturing initiative to help the Carnegie Mellon spinoff transform from primarily research into production. This grant will also create 100 engineering and manufacturing jobs.

"Pennsylvania is home to some of the world's most innovative research institutions and thanks to our people's creativity, Pennsylvanians are developing new technologies that are changing the world," said Gov. Corbett. "By making strategic investments to spur innovation, we are ensuring that the ideas and concepts discovered in Pennsylvania are being developed and manufactured in Pennsylvania. This leads to new growth and new jobs right here in our commonwealth."

RE2 was founded in Pittsburgh in 2001 by Jorgen Pedersen, one of the original 12 employees at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC). After incubating at the NREC, RE2, which specializes in defense robotics with an emphasis on intelligent modular manipulation for mobile robotic platforms, has since grown to a team of over 30 employees who have developed numerous unmanned systems technologies.

D2PA funds will be used to launch the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Design for Manufacturing initiative to help RE2 shift from research and development to manufacturing production. The transformation will enable RE2 to compete for larger defense-based contracts.

"We are honored and excited to have this opportunity to strengthen western Pennsylvania's high-tech and manufacturing base through the use of these D2PA funds," stated Jorgen Pedersen, president and CEO of RE2.

In 2011, Gov. Corbett commissioned the Governor's Manufacturing Advisory Council (GMAC), a public/private advisory council to identify and prioritize top issues to influence, sustain and advance the manufacturing sector in the commonwealth.

The 24-member Council sent its report to Gov. Corbett and the General Assembly in Aug. 2012 and outlined 15 key recommendations to help Pennsylvania remain competitive in today's global economy. The administration has addressed or has started the process to address all 15 recommendations including improving collaboration between business and government to advance innovative technologies and business opportunities.

D2PA was established by Gov. Corbett in 2011 to build capacity to support Pennsylvania businesses and to spur creativity and innovation in the provision of economic development services. Last fiscal year, the D2PA program supported initiatives tied to growing the life sciences, advanced manufacturing, business incubators, and education, workforce and economic opportunity collaborations.

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