By: Crystal Carter
InnovationU – Seminar Illuminates Pathways to Industry Partnerships
On April 16, 2025, Texas A&M Innovation hosted the latest installment of its InnovationU seminar series, titled “Funding Innovation through Collaborations.” Held at the Memorial Student Center and livestreamed virtually, the session brought together researchers, faculty, staff, and students from across The Texas A&M University System for an insightful discussion on the power of industry-academic partnerships. Missed the event? You can still benefit from the discussion — click here to watch the full recording.
Moderated by Dr. Sam Kim, Managing Director of New Ventures for The Texas A&M University System, the event featured Dr. Mark Benden, Professor and Department Head of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University and Director of the Texas A&M Center for Worker Health and Dr. Amit Dhingra, Professor and Department Head of Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, who shared their firsthand experiences in securing industry funding and translating research into real-world impact. From navigating collaboration agreements to aligning academic goals with market needs, the panelists offered valuable strategies and candid reflections on building productive relationships with industry partners.
The session underscored how meaningful collaboration can amplify research outcomes, accelerate commercialization, and open new doors for funding and innovation.
