Innovation & Opportunity

With the affordable cost of living and academic talent from its 13 area colleges and universities, it’s clear that the Worcester region is poised for growth, making it an ideal place for students seeking hands-on experience, graduates looking to launch their careers, and entrepreneurs ready to start their ventures.

In fact, it was recently named by Axios as one of the nation’s top 10 up-and-coming tech startup hubs.

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Worcester thrived as a manufacturing powerhouse in the 19th century, and that same innovative and industrial spirit can still be felt today. Over the last few decades, the city has emerged as leader in the healthcare, higher education, life sciences, and IT industries. At the same time, there is a burgeoning culture of entrepreneurship in the city, as start-ups, incubators, and accelerators take up residence throughout Worcester at an unprecedented pace.

WPI is proud to be part of this groundswell with the development of Gateway Park and the Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center; the announcement of PracticePoint, an integrated engineering/healthcare research & development center that will accelerate the creation of secure digital health technologies and support workforce development for the industry; the Center for Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation; the Tech Advisors Network; and many other initiatives.

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Pawtucket Red Sox Principal Owner and Chairman Larry Lucchino shakes hands with WPI President Laurie Leshin.

With a common goal of building a ballpark of the future through research and innovation, WPI will become the official Worcester Red Sox academic technology advisor, helping the club design and develop what will be known as Polar Park, expected to open in 2021.

Learn more about the partnership

In the News: How WPI is Boosting Worcester’s Startup Scene

WPI ingenuity and its increasing intellectual property activity were the focus a recent Telegram & Gazette column, which included an interview with Todd Keiller, WPI’s director of intellectual property and innovation, who noted that the university has 44 licenses to 13 companies--mostly startups--with more expected in the current fiscal year. Read the article.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship at WPI