From Lab to Market: Scaling Up Innovation Across UT

This year's inaugural Innovation Week united students, faculty, staff and industry partners to celebrate the journey from research discovery to real-world impact. Presentations and competitions showcased how The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with The University of Texas System, is driving ideas that can change the world.

The weeklong gathering combined the innovative efforts of Discovery to Impact, Dell Medical School, TEXAS Entrepreneurship, Industry Engagement, UT Career Success, and the Office of Career & Life Design across UT Austin. Each of these groups plays a critical role in ensuring that when research moves from the University to the market, the pathways are clear - for companies, for partners, and for the people who bring technologies to life.

Throughout the week, 56 startups from UT Austin were awarded $446,500 in funding to further commercialize their research.

"Delivering innovation at this scale requires translation, partnership and talent moving together," said Andrew Maas, assistant vice president for technology transfer, Discovery to Impact. "Innovation Week reflects coordinated efforts that support innovation from research discovery through commercial impact."

The week started with an opening reception Monday hosted by The University of Texas System that highlighted innovation and a spirit of collaboration across all 13 institutions. Chancellor John Zerwas gave opening remarks, followed by Chief Innovation Officer Sheila Kadura, who touched on systemwide efforts to promote and support research and innovation.

"When we talk about innovation, it's easy to focus on the moment of discovery, the breakthrough in a lab, the insight that shifts our understanding of what's possible. This week is about what happens after that moment," said Kadura. "At The University of Texas, innovation does not stop with discovery. It moves - deliberately and at scale - from research into the world, where it delivers public value, strengthens industries, and improves lives."