University Innovations - Driving Economic Impact

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

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

Ben Solomon

Founder & CEO

FedTech

Preeta Datta

Director of Open Innovation for North America

Evonik Corporation

Program Outline

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

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 ↑ 2026 Symposium Sessions
	Tuesday March 10
10:30	Supporting the Translation of Research-based Technologies to Products
1:30	The Role of Universities in Creating Innovation Ecosystems
4:00	University Innovations - Posters

2026 Symposium Program
	Tuesday March 10

10:30	Supporting the Translation of Research-based Technologies to Products	Marriott State A
	Session chair: Christine Galib, Princeton University & Alex Norman, Princeton University
	It Takes a Village: Innovation Ecosystem Building Panel E. Dinu (Moderator), J.E. Odegard, J. Jones, B. Solomon, P. Datta, Numinous Capital, 62x Ventures, North Carolina State University, FedTech, Evonik, US
	Research Triangle Innovation Sphere J. Jur, NC Dept of Commerce, US
	I-Corps as the First Stop: A Proven University Innovation Model A.T. Trotsenko, J. Blaho, CUNY Incubator Network, US

1:30	The Role of Universities in Creating Innovation Ecosystems	Marriott State A
	Session chair: Christine Galib, Princeton University, & Alex Norman, Princeton University
	Fireside Chat - Policy & Process: How Economic Policy Impacts Deep Tech Innovation K. Stout, B. Soloman, International Center for Law and Economics, FedTech, US
	From Princeton Lab to Global Lithium Operations: Commercializing Water-Smart Technologies for Critical Minerals A. Fasnacht, PureLi, US
	Adaptilens: Materials Innovations driving the Development of Biomimetic Accommodating Intraocular Lenses M.L. Becker, Duke University, US
	TBD F. Heide, Princeton, US
	VectorScribe: Spinning out from university lab to startup via NSF and APT D.J. McGee, VectorScribe LLC, US
	From Microliters to Market: QATCH's Journey Z. Parlak, Qatch Technologies, LLC, US
	Balancing Deep Tech and Market Agility: From MEMS Flow Sensing to Non-Intrusive Fill-Level Monitoring Y. Fan, Tendo Technologies, Inc., US
	From Ag Waste to Membraneless Separation: How Princeton PMI Catalyzed ZOLX’s Pivot H. Parhizkar, ZOLX Inc., US
	NSF I‑Corps Spin‑Out: HYDROGENISE - Hydrogen Generation through Integrated Sustainable Electrolysis for Scalable Clean Energy S. Bashir, P. Robinson, J.L. Liu, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, US

4:00	University Innovations - Posters	Expo Hall AB
	Growing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems for Resilient Innovation – Regional Distribution of Participants in New York State FAST Y-H. Kim, City University of New York, US
	The NYC Innovation Hot Spot as a model for university-led incubators to support deep technology commercialization within a state-wide ecosystem C. Cardaci, J. Blaho, NYC Innovation Hot Spot, City University of New York, US