Mercyhurst launches Studio 26 venture studio to power student innovation
New venture studio will connect students, faculty, and regional partners to move ideas toward real-world application.
Mercyhurst University is expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and industry partners to collaborate on emerging ideas and technologies through the launch of Studio 26, a venture-focused initiative designed to move promising concepts toward real-world application. The effort is supported by a $500,000 grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA), which helps establish the venture studio and support its early programming.
The new venture builds on Mercyhurst’s long-standing emphasis on applied learning and industry collaboration, demonstrated through academic programs in Computing and Information Science—including Cybersecurity and AI & Data Science—as well as national academic competitions and partnerships with regional and national organizations. Initiatives such as the Center for Intelligence, Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT) represent one example of this broader applied learning tradition.
Studio 26 is operated in coordination with Mercyhurst's Computing and Information Science (CIS) Department, providing a hub where students, faculty, and external partners can explore innovative ideas, test emerging technologies, and develop new solutions to real-world challenges.
The initiative is led by John Olszowka, Ph.D., vice president for strategic initiatives at Mercyhurst, who has been working with the CIS Department to bring together innovation efforts across campus.
“Mercyhurst has built a strong culture of applied learning through programs in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and intelligence studies, as well as through national competition teams,” Olszowka said. “Studio 26 expands those opportunities by creating a platform where ideas developed through these programs can continue to evolve through collaboration with faculty, students, and industry partners.”
A Venture Studio Model
Studio 26 will operate using a venture studio model, supporting the development of new ideas through collaboration, mentorship, and experimentation.
Students participating in Studio 26 will have opportunities to work alongside faculty mentors, industry professionals, and community partners while developing projects that address challenges across fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, intelligence analysis, technology development, and business innovation.
The model encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and provides a framework for moving promising ideas beyond the classroom and toward practical implementation.
Strengthening Connections with Industry and the Region
University leaders say Studio 26 will also help strengthen Mercyhurst’s connections with industry partners and regional organizations. By bringing together students, entrepreneurs, faculty experts, and external collaborators, Studio 26 will complement existing applied learning and research initiatives across the university, including hands-on project experiences within Computing and Information Science programs and other areas where students already engage with real-world technology and data challenges.
Additional partnerships and programming are expected to develop as the venture studio grows.
Expanding Mercyhurst’s Innovation Ecosystem
The launch of Studio 26 reflects Mercyhurst’s broader effort to connect applied learning programs, research initiatives, and industry partnerships into a growing innovation ecosystem.
Recent initiatives—including the university’s partnership with generative AI technology company data² and national success in collegiate business and technology competitions—highlight the increasing role of experiential learning and industry collaboration across academic areas.
Together, these initiatives create new pathways for students to develop ideas, work with industry partners, and apply their skills to real-world challenges.
“Studio 26 is another step forward in building an environment where innovation and collaboration can thrive,” Olszowka said.
FEATURED PHOTO: Studio 26 logo.
SUPPORTING PHOTO: Students working on a project for the CIRAT in the Innovation Entente Lab.