This week, the Office of External Affairs hosted Innovation Day @ UW. The day showcased how the university is contributing to the growth of our region’s innovation ecosystem, and is finding solutions to today’s major challenges. Visitors included members of the state legislature, state legislative staff, federal delegation staff, local/regional staff, and economic development leaders.
Participants started the day with a visit to CoMotion, the University’s collaborative innovation hub. Visitors heard pitches from a number of UW startups in the CoMotion Incubator, and had a chance to see their technology. Next, participants had a conversation with Vice Provost for Innovation Vikram Jandhyala, who overviewed CoMotion’s efforts to take ideas to impact.
Vice Provost Jandhyala then facilitated a panel discussion with a UW faculty member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and undergraduate student who shared their experiences and insights from launching companies across a wide range of fields based on UW research and technology. The group’s morning agenda wrapped up with stops at CoMotion’s MakerSpace and Wet Lab. In both spaces, participants got a behind the scenes look at the technology, expertise, and facilities available to students and entrepreneurs on campus — from bench space to 3D printers, laser cutters, specialized hand tools, and more.
Over the lunch hour Innovation Day attendees were welcomed by Vice President of External Affairs Randy Hodgins, who introduced Dr. Norm Beauchamp, Chair of both the Faculty Senate and the Department of Radiology.
Dr. Beauchamp shared how his stroke research at UW is changing lives with a very poignant patient story. He also discussed the global and local impacts of his research and service work, with examples spanning collaboration with a research team in China, to volunteering as the Medical Director for the Seattle Free Clinic. Dr. Beauchamp told the group he came to UW because of the unparalleled collaborative potential. The University drives the innovation mindset beyond the campus, inspiring action in the wider community.
After lunch, participants walked across campus to the Molecular Engineering & Sciences building, which houses the Clean Energy Institute. The group learned about the UW’s efforts to accelerate a clean energy future from Dan Schwartz, Director of CEI. Visits to the Hillhouse and Ginger labs emphasized how state and federal investment is being leveraged to spur new discoveries in next generation materials for solar cells.
Innovation Day ended at StartUp Hall to get an up close look at the public/private partnership powering the U District’s hub for entrepreneurial talent. Chris DeVore, CEO of Tech Stars, talked about the vision for Startup Hall and UW’s efforts to catalyze the U District into an Innovation District.
Following a tour of Startup Hall’s co-working and tenant spaces, participants received a presentation from Connie Bourassa-Shaw, Director of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the Foster School. Several of the Buerk Center’s students and alums were also on hand to share their entrepreneurial experiences.
The day concluded with a thank you from the External Affairs team, and an open invitation to elected officials and their staff to continue engaging with the campus community, whether it be in the innovation space or any other area of interest.
View more photos from Innovation Day @UW on UWGOV’s Facebook.
