MSU technologies and startups developed in campus labs, classrooms and beyond will be featured at the ninth annual MSU Innovation Celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. April 18 in the Huntington Club on the fourth floor of Spartan Stadium.
“The MSU Innovation Celebration offers the opportunity bring the university and community together to honor MSU innovators and showcase some of the best innovations developed at MSU,” said Charles Hasemann, assistant vice president for innovation and economic development at the MSU Innovation Center.
Technologies, research and startups on display represent discoveries from a diverse range of academic fields, from agriculture to engineering. Some are available for evaluation by interested commercial partners or have already been licensed by companies, while others are in the early stages of development.
“The event highlights faculty and student excellence taking place across campus. The economic impact of these innovations we help drive in Michigan and beyond,” Hasemann added.
The following faculty researchers will be honored at the event:
- Ramakrishna Mukkamala
Innovation of the Year: smartphone-based blood pressure monitoring - Amy Iezzoni
Innovator of the Year: cherry rootstock development - Marcos Dantus
Technology Transfer Achievement Award: ultrafast lasers - David Douches
Corporate Connector of the Year: MSU potato breeding and genetics program
In addition to the faculty awardees, several faculty researchers and startup companies will be on site with exhibits. This year’s event also includes 25 student startups from the MSU Hatch startup incubator, a program that offers free services, support and funding to MSU students. The startups feature a mix of products and services, such as sustainable clothing, probiotic energy snacks, robotics, music, a tutor scheduling app and more.
“The student teams selected for this showcase is a small yet diverse representation of the 200 innovative teams that are currently active in the Hatch,” said Lori Fischer, events and student program manager.
“Our students involved in the Hatch come from all different majors and colleges. They are independently driven to apply the elements of starting and maintaining their own business,” Fischer said. “Whether they continue their startup or not is up to them, but they now have the entrepreneurial disciplines for the rest of their journey through life.”
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged.