UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State, in collaboration with the University Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), recently hosted the first UIDP Penn State conference at the University, highlighting the importance of partnerships between academic institutions and industry. The event took place from Sept. 9 through Sept. 11 at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.  

UIDP is a national organization that facilitates connections among those committed to the “active participation in pursuit of excellence in [university-industry] collaboration and partnership,” according to the group’s website. As such, the conference brought together over 200 attendees to learn from thought leaders, industry experts and academic researchers. Over three days, they shared their approaches to partnership and discussed meaningful collaboration to advance the boundaries of science and societal needs. 

The event featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking events and tours of Penn State landmarks including the Millennium Science Complex, the Berkey Creamery and the CIMP-3D laboratory.  

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi welcomed attendees on day one, noting “as we have shown throughout history, our partnerships have accelerated innovation by combining academic research capabilities with industry insights and resources. This combination is a powerful approach to challenges, especially in fields driven by rapid technological advancements.”  

She went on to say, “partnerships across sectors, between universities and industries, is a critical investment in our shared success as a nation and, today especially, as an interconnected global society.” Bendapudi also moderated a panel discussion around the prevalence and impact of global change.  

Penn State leaders involved in discussions, presentations and remarks included:  

• “Building a Regional Innovation Ecosystem,” panel discussion with Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Josh Robinson   

• “Bridging Academia and Industry: A Success Story — Penn State and IBM” case study with Director of Corporate Engagement Beth Colledge  

• “Applied Research: A Case Study and Lessons Learned,” with Chief Financial Officer and Director of Business Services at the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory James Dromazos  

• Closing remarks on day one from Associate Vice President and Director of the Office for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization for Research James Delattre  

• A panel discussion on “Leveraging Interdisciplinary Institutes to Support Corporate Engagement,” featuring Senior Vice President for Research at Penn State Andrew Read, alongside industry leaders and Penn State experts  

“We are proud of the success of the UIDP conference at Penn State,” Read said. “It is exciting to see so many innovative ideas arise from the discussions and opportunities our attendees had to network and make new connections. I have no doubt this conference has built relationships with industry partners and paved the way for future partnerships and collaborations that will have a huge and lasting impact on society."   

Industry members who participated on panels or presented at the conference include:   

• Claudio Mazzali, vice president of global research at Corning

• Melissa Stevens, executive vice president of philanthropy at The Milken Institute

• Anne Clancy, national executive for higher education strategy at T-Mobile

• Allen Walker, strategic partnerships officer for the U.S. National Science Foundation

• Michelle Gallagher, senior principal research and development engineering at Medtronic Spine & Biologics

• Woj Wrona, director of business development at Merck 

• Virginie Maillard, head of Siemens Technology U.S. 

• Wendy Pryce Lewis, president of the Performance Carbon Global Business Unit at Morgan Advanced Materials

• Hugh Roth, senior vice president of sales – chief customer officer at PepsiCo

The event also had academic speakers and panelists from Vanderbilt University, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Claflin University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and more. View the full list of speakers and sessions at the UIDP event page. 

"The true value of this conference lies in its ability to unite diverse minds around common goals," said Don Mothersbaugh, director of corporate engagement at Penn State. "What makes events like UIDP essential is not just the innovation they spark, but the lasting relationships they foster between institutions and industries. Together, these collaborations will continue to drive progress, ensuring we stay ahead in addressing the world's most complex challenges."  

  

About UIDP 

The UIDP supports mutually beneficial university-industry collaborations by developing and disseminating strategies for addressing common issues between the two sectors. UIDP tackles strategic and tactical challenges impacting the environment for research collaboration. UIDP is a solutions-oriented organization where members identify issues impacting university-industry relations and opportunities to develop new approaches to working together.  

Penn State is a member of the UIDP.  

About Penn State 

Penn State is a multi-campus, land-grant, public research University that educates students from around the world and supports individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research and service. Penn State is an R1 university, a classification given by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education to the very best research universities in America, reaching a record $1.239 billion in research expenditures during fiscal year 2023-23. The University’s discovery-oriented, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and scholarship promote human and economic development, global understanding, and advancement in professional practice through the expansion of knowledge and its applications in the natural and applied sciences, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, technology, arts and humanities, and myriad professions. The University’s instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional, continuing and extension education, offered through both resident instruction and distance learning. Penn State’s educational programs are enriched by the talent, knowledge, diversity, creativity and teaching and research acumen of its faculty, students and staff. As Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant university, Penn State provides unparalleled access to education and public service to support the citizens of the commonwealth and beyond. The University engages in collaborative activities with private sector, educational and governmental partners worldwide to generate, integrate, apply and disseminate knowledge that is valuable to society. 

About the Corporate Engagement Center at Penn State   

The Corporate Engagement Center connects industry partners to strategic opportunities at Penn State for research and development, philanthropy, and talent recruitment. The Corporate Engagement Center is a joint initiative of the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and the Office of University Development, working in partnership with Career Services.