University Innovations - Driving Economic Impact

MARCH 10-12, 2026 | RALEIGH, NC
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University Innovations
– Driving Economic Impact

Submit Your Abstract - Due January 9

Please first review the information for authors — abstract submission guidelines.

This symposium explores how academic institutions play a critical role in advancing academic discoveries to economic impact. This symposium will delve into the processes by which universities create the innovation ecosystem infrastructure that propels the journey of an idea from lab to market. Attendees will learn how universities, government, incubators and industry are working to create dynamic, interdependent collaborations and ecosystems that support fuel economic growth, by bringing groundbreaking research to market. Talks will include panel discussions and pitches from startups, including university spinouts.

Topics & Application Areas

Nurturing economic impact through collaborations and strategic engagement
Supporting the translation of research-based technologies to products
The role of universities in creating innovation ecosystems
Universities as conveners of ecosystem stakeholders
Lightening talks from university spin-outs
Future Trends in University Innovation Ecosystems
Other

Symposium Co-Chairs

Alex Norman

Executive Director

Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton University

Christine Galib

Director, Advancing Photonics Technologies

Princeton University

Key Speakers

Emily Dinu

Founding Partner

Numinous Capital

Jacob Jones

Professor

North Carolina State University

Jan Odegard

Founder

62X Ventures

Jesse Jur

Deputy Director

North Carolina Department of Commerce

Kristian Stout

Director

International Center for Law & Economics

Angela Maria Fasnacht

COO

PureLi

Cameras As Nanophotonic Optical Computers

Felix Heide

Assistant Professor,

Princeton University

James McCabe

Engineer

NASA

Ben Solomon

Founder & CEO

FedTech

Program Outline

University Innovations Panel Discussion, moderated by Emily Dinu, and with Jan E. Odegard and Jacob Jones.

It Takes a Village: Innovation Ecosystem Building Description: This panel will focus on the key stakeholders who drive innovation ecosystem building. What is the technology transfer arch, and how does that influence ecosystems? How are ecosystems built, how are they scaled? What is the role of industry, of universities, of venture capitalists, or strategic investors? Who else needs to be at the table, why, and when? How do we educate stakeholders so they are not only aware of best practices, but also have the tools and skills to implement them?

Policy & Process Panel Discussion: How Economic Policy Impacts Deep Tech Innovation - Fireside Chat with Kristian Stout

Back to Top ↑ 2025 Symposium Sessions
	Monday June 9
10:30	University Innovations - Driving Collaborations & Tech Ventures
11:15	Fostering University-Industry Collaborations
1:00	University Innovations - Commercialization of Academic Research: Panel
3:30	University Innovations - Driving Collaborations & Tech Ventures
4:00	University – Innovation Partnerships - Posters

2025 Symposium Program
	Monday June 9

10:30	University Innovations - Driving Collaborations & Tech Ventures	Room 304
	Session chair: Alex Norman & Christine Galib, Princeton University, US
	Transforming Research into Market-ready Solutions A. Williams, Princeton University, US

11:15	Fostering University-Industry Collaborations	Room 304
	Session chair: Nakia Melecio, Georgia Tech, US
	N. Melecio, Georgia Tech, US
	L. Brackett, Jackson State University, US
	A. Busch, NSF Innovation Corps Southwest Hub, UT-Austin, US
	B. Petty, Texas A&M University, US

1:00	University Innovations - Commercialization of Academic Research: Panel	Lone Star G
	Session chair: Christine Galib, Princeton University, US
	J. Ritter, Princeton University, US
	A. Gollach, HAX, US
	J. Ethier, Energy Tech Nexus, US
	P. Dianat, Quantum Computing Inc, US
	Blended Finance for Climate Tech Commercialization G. Francis, Rapid Ventures, US
	Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Venture Capital: Fireside Chat J. O'Sullivan, O'Sullivan Solutions, US
	T. Best, Syzygy Plasmonics, US
	A. Stachowiak, Goose Capital, US

3:30	University Innovations - Driving Collaborations & Tech Ventures	Room 304
	Session chair: Alex Norman & Christine Galib, Princeton University, US
	PolyGone Systems - Systematic Solutions for Microplastic Pollution Y. Liu, PolyGone Systems, Inc, US
	Engineering a Cooler Future: An Immigrant’s Path from NASA to Climate Tech Innovation R. Rasheed, Helix Earth, US
	Empowering Next-Generation Power Resilience: Revterra’s Kinetic Stabilizer from Concept to Commercial Scale B.I. Jawdat, Revterra, US
	The Montana Microfabrication Facility R. Joshi, Montana State University, US
	Commercializing Academic Research in Low R&D Industries: The Case of E-Textiles E.P. Tillery, A.C. Mills, A. Parker, North Carolina State Univeristy, US
	Nanotechnology Revolution: Redefining Battery Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future C. Reyes, Material Hybrid Manufacturing, US
	Understanding the Safety of Energy Storage and Conversion Materials and Systems through R&D Collaborations W.S. Tang, UL Research Institutes, US
	HAB-Away: Eco-Friendly Algicide Foam J.B. Scott, V. Lovko, S. Raghavan, V.T. John, Tulane University, US

4:00	University – Innovation Partnerships - Posters	JW Grand Ballroom
	High Performance Smart Contract Units C.J. Candebat, T. Lu, L. Peng, Tulane University, US
	MosaiCAM : Real-Time Adaptive Resolution Histological Slide Imaging J.B. Scott, K. Ashman, H. Zhuge, C. Wenk, J.Q. Brown, M.S. Cooper, C.M. Licorish, B. Summa, Tulane University, US
	Catalyst for Electrochemical Reduction of CO2 to Ethanol G. Kayode, M. Montemore, C.J. Candebat, I. Seim, M. Yang, Tulane University, US
	Tulane Hybrid Solar Converter J.B. Scott, B. Riggs, Y. Ji, L. Artzt, D. Codd, M. Escarra, Tulane University, US