University City Science Center Announces Strategic Digital Alliance With Microsoft

Alliance to Benefit Residents with Skills Training, Technology Camps and Capacity-Building Resources for Small Businesses

PHILADELPHIA (July 22, 2016) – The University City Science Center will announce a strategic alliance with Microsoft Corp. with a focus on digital literacy, small business and entrepreneurship, health and wellness, and youth engagement with STEM subjects. The announcement will take place at on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 12:45 p.m. at Quorum at the University City Science Center, located at 3711 Market Street in Philadelphia.

As part of the Digital Alliance, the Science Center will jointly host with Microsoft the following events during the Democratic National Convention:

• July 26th, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EDT: A YouthSpark Live Town Hall, followed by a luncheon announcing the Strategic Digital Alliance and other community partnerships; and

• July 27th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. EDT: a Healthcare Innovation roundtable forum for local members and partners of the Science Center and neighboring healthcare communities.

After the DNC, the Science Center will work with Microsoft to offer a DigiCamp program for Boys, a DigiGirlz Day program for Girls, and an educational forum that will focus on development and capacity building for startup organizations and small businesses through the Microsoft BizSpark program.

“Our Strategic Digital Alliance with Microsoft builds on the work we’ve been doing at the Science Center to support entrepreneurship and engage middle-school STEM students,” says Science Center President & CEO Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., MBA. “Together we will be able to reach new audiences and introduce even more people to the transformative power and potential of technology.”

“Microsoft is thrilled to support the Science Center because we believe that the power of technology helps individuals and communities do more and achieve more, so they can ultimately realize their full potential,” said Donna Woodall, Director Microsoft Citizenship & Public Affairs. “This strategic alliance with the Science Center is exciting as it provides youth with access to coding courses such as video game development and small businesses and entrepreneurs with innovation workshops as well as technology tools to help them reach their goals.”

Microsoft’s work with the Science Center is part of Microsoft’s CityNext program to empower people—whether governments, citizens, or businesses—to transform their cities and their future. Through CityNext, people can take advantage of a broad portfolio of products and technologies, a global network of partners, and a long track record of successful education and social programs.

Programming will take place at the Microsoft Reactor, housed on the ground floor of 3711 Market Street. Located in the heart of uCity Square, Microsoft Reactor is an industry partnership between Microsoft, SeventySix Capital, the University City Science Center and Wexford Science + Technology.

About the Science Center

Located in the heart of uCity Square, the University City Science Center is a dynamic hub for innovation, and entrepreneurship and technology development in the Greater Philadelphia region. Founded in 1963 as the nation’s first urban research park, it provides business incubation, programming, lab and office facilities, and support services for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing and established companies. Graduate firms and current residents of the Science Center’s business incubator support one out of every 100 jobs in Greater Philadelphia and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org or view our 2016 Annual Review at www.UCSCReview.org

About Wexford Science & Technology

Wexford Science & Technology is a real estate investment and development company specializing in facilities for for-profit and not-for-profit institutions, especially universities, university-related research parks and healthcare systems. Wexford brings a unique approach of collaborating with clients to build knowledge communities which are vibrant, mixed-use, amenity-rich environments that foster innovation.

About SeventySix Capital

SeventySix Capital invests in passionate, smart and nice entrepreneurs who are launching game-changing companies in the e-commerce, retail and healthcare industries. Wayne Kimmel founded SeventySix Capital, the Philadelphia area based venture capital fund, in 1999. Recently, Jon Powell joined Kimmel as a Managing Partner at SeventySix Capital. Powell is also the CEO of Kravco, a leading private real estate developer and property management company that developed the King of Prussia Mall. Five of SeventySix Capital's portfolio companies have been acquired by Fortune 500 companies including SeamlessWeb and Take Care Health Systems, and one was the top performing stock in the U.S. for 5 consecutive years. SeventySix Capital's current portfolio companies include: Adwerx, CareCam Health Systems, Dwolla, Indiegogo, Lindi Skin, ReverbNation, StartUp Health, Thrive Commerce and Whistle Sports. SeventySix Capital's partners are extremely active in the entrepreneurial and non-profit communities around the world. For more information on SeventySix Capital, please visit seventysixcapital.com or at @76capital on Twitter.

About uCity Square

Powered by the University City Science Center and Wexford Science + Technology, uCity Square will be the center of Philadelphia’s economic growth in University City by creating a dynamic environment for innovation and collaboration between the private sector and top-tier research institutions such as University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. For more information, go to www.ucitysquare.com

Back to news