By Crystal Carter, Texas A&M Innovation – April 9, 2024
Texas A&M Innovation Recognizes Research & Innovation Events: Highlighting Entrepreneurship, Research, and Collaboration
With a focus on showcasing cutting-edge research, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, and engaging with local communities, The Texas A&M University System member institutions have played a pivotal role in driving economic growth and community development across the state.
From Commerce to Corpus Christi, A&M System institutions have been at the forefront of innovation, hosting a diverse array of events that highlight the transformative impact of research and innovation on society. These events have brought together researchers, industry leaders, students, and community members to explore groundbreaking discoveries, foster collaboration, and inspire the next generation of innovators.
At Texas A&M University-Commerce, the Lion’s Innovation Showcase is open to all college and high school students, faculty and staff. The showcase highlights creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. From presenting ideas to real investors to creating social awareness, participants showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills while competing for cash prizes and recognition.
Meanwhile, Prairie View A&M University recently hosted its Research & Innovation Week, April 1-4, bringing together local industry partners, faculty, researchers, students, and policymakers to discuss innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, and economic development. The Innovation Day included panel discussions, featuring Pete ONeill, Texas A&M’s Chief Innovation Officer, and workshops around the topic of transition of research from lab to market. Industry Day focused on establishing connections with industry partners to better unite academia and the business sphere. Key topics included cultivating innovation ecosystems, the importance of collaborations, and opportunities for cooperation between academia and industry.
On Wednesday, April 3, the Lone Star Ballroom at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi transformed into a bustling hub of technology and innovation as the Island University launched its month-long celebration of Research & Innovation with a kickoff event that included demonstrations from campus experts.
From forensic skeletal analysis aiding law and justice to the development of surveillance drones and advancements in water quality management for healthier communities, A&M-Corpus Christi’s commitment to nurturing the innovators and creators of tomorrow continues to expand. Among the highlights of the kickoff event was the introduction of ROSE, a Robotic Optical Surveying Explorer operated by the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science at A&M-Corpus Christi. As useful as she is charming, ROSE, a robotic dog, utilizes cutting-edge light detection and ranging system technology to explore areas that may be inaccessible to humans.
“Research & Innovation (R&I) Month at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a celebration of the research, scholarship, and creative activity of our Islander faculty, staff, and students,” said Dr. Ahmed Mahdy, Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation at A&M-Corpus Christi. “As we join together this month at panel discussions, symposiums, and presentations, we push boundaries, cultivate creativity, and ignite positive change that resonate far beyond the confines of our campus. A&M-Corpus Christi is the intellectual capital of our region and we are committed to unlocking new pathways for economic growth and fostering deeper community engagement through events like those hosted during R&I Month.”
ONeill, emphasized the importance of Research and Innovation events in supporting inventors and commercializing innovations across the A&M System. “By working together with our communities, we can harness the power of innovation to address challenges facing society,” said ONeill. “As our member institutions continue leveraging their research capabilities, fostering collaboration, and empowering the next generation of innovators, events across Texas serve as a reminder of the unique role Texas A&M can serve in impacting our region.”
Photo caption: ROSE, a Robotic Optical Surveying Explorer, greets guests at the Research and Innovation Month kickoff event at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. ROSE is operated by the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science at TAMU-CC. The robotic dog employs cutting-edge light detection and ranging system technology (LiDAR) to explore areas and conditions that could be hazardous to humans. -Ben Zaragosa/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.2 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus, the Texas A&M System educates more than 152,000 students and makes more than 24 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1 billion and help drive the state’s economy.
Texas A&M Innovation at College Station works with a diverse array of partners – including entrepreneurs, investors, technology incubators, and large enterprises – to improve lives by commercializing innovations from The Texas A&M University System. Texas A&M research generates more than 300 new technologies each year, providing abundant and varied opportunities for industry collaboration. Learn more about the Texas A&M Innovation technology portfolio.
