Jul. 5—WILKES-BARRE — Jill Avery-Stoss, President of The Institute, this week said the annual Indicators Report contains an overview of technology and innovation in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Avery-Stoss said it includes data regarding science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) occupations; academic research; clinical trials; venture capital investment; and federal research grants.
Avery-Stoss said this information highlights the region’s potential for economic growth, resilience, and improved quality of life through technological development.
The report also acknowledges challenges in measuring innovation directly, however, because many advancements occur outside formal data collection systems.
According to Avery-Stoss, the region has seen modest growth in STEM-related employment across architecture and engineering; life, physical, and social sciences; and computer and mathematical occupations, totaling 8,516 professionals in 2024.
“These roles not only offer livable wages but also support NEPA’s ability to adapt to automation as well as the constantly evolving tech demands in top sectors like manufacturing and healthcare,” Avery-Stoss said.
Between January 2024 and December 2024, 1,779 job postings for STEM-related positions were advertised throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. Most STEM-related job postings pertained to manufacturing, followed by health care and social assistance, professional, scientific, and technical services, and administrative, support, waste management, and remediation services.
Higher education plays a key role in innovation as well. In 2023, 11 regional academic institutions and three satellite campuses spent over $5.1 million on research — up from the previous year — despite a slight decrease in research staff.
Federal research funding programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) are vital to supporting small business innovation. In Pennsylvania, SBIR awards have declined for two consecutive years, while STTR awards increased to over $24 million in 2024.
Avery-Stoss said this information is a determinant of technological activity and expertise.
“Although state-level data provides a larger range than county and municipal data, the insight is still meaningful,” Avery-Stoss said. “The highest-ranking states are associated with high levels of economic activity, large or flourishing metropolitan areas, and relatively large state populations.”
The National Science Foundation (NSF) also provides critical support for research and innovation. In 2024, the region received more than $3 million in NSF funding, although this marked a decrease from the prior year. Nevertheless, state-level NSF funding saw a slight increase.