Tuesday, March 6, the University of Arizona (UA) hosted its ninth annual Innovation Day at the UA. The event, attended by over 300 people, celebrated the UA's success in technology development and innovation by highlighting the research achievements of students, staff, and faculty.

Innovation Day opened with UA at the Leading Edge, which showcased the cutting edge research of leading UA faculty members. The session was chaired by Dr. Len Jessup, Dean of the Eller College of Management.

This year's Leading Edge researchers included:

Eric A. Betterton, Ph.D. focuses on atmospheric and environmental chemistry exploring an atmospheric model to forecast wind-blown dust from natural and man-made sources. This research supports the development of dust forecasting technology for health and traffic advisories.

Leslie Gunatilaka, Ph.D. explores novel compounds synthesized by exotic plants from the arid zones of Asia, S. America and the Sonoran desert, and evaluates these compounds for medicinal value.

Larry Head, Ph.D. specializes in systems and industrial engineering. His research on priority based traffic signals is working to save the lives of fire and rescue first responders.

Sharon Megdal, Ph.D. concentrates on state and regional water resource management and policy. Her work on environmental water needs, aquifer recharge and assessment, and planning to meet future water needs of growing, semi-arid regions contributes to improved development and understanding of state water management strategies.

James T. Schwiegerling, Ph.D. is developing a design for an accommodating intraocular lens, which behaves just like the flexible human lens in the eye, which can be used as a replacement in cataract surgery.

The celebration of University of Arizona innovation continued with the Technology Innovation Awards Luncheon, which honored an outstanding faculty member and student for their achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.

This year's faculty Technology Innovation Award recipient is Ronald S. Weinstein, M.D. Dr. Weinstein has pursed a wide variety of projects in his medical career. He has pioneered original research in cancer diagnostics and the human-computer interface, championed the translation of his inventions into commercial products, and founded companies in the technology-based sector to market their products. Dr. Weinstein is an internationally acclaimed academic physician who invented, patented, and commercialized "telepathology" a transformational healthcare delivery system that leverages the power of broadband telecommunications. He is the founding director of the award-winning Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP).

Alexandra Armstrong, a final-year PhD candidate in Veterinary Sciences and Microbiology, received the student Technology Innovation Award. Alexandra Armstrong is a leading force in the area of preventing bacterial food borne diseases. Ms. Armstrong's doctoral project resulted in a novel, reproducible, effective vaccine to reduce Campylobacter jejuni. The commercial potential of this vaccine is enormous.

The UA also recognized the extraordinary accomplishment of Michael Drake (1946-2011), a leader in the cosmochemistry scientific community. He was the guiding force in the Phoenix Mars Mission and the recently announced OSIRIS-Rex mission.

A special video titled "Thinking the Impossible" premiered during the luncheon and highlighted how the University of Arizona has been a global leader in scientific and technological innovation for over a hundred years.

Following the luncheon, the Innovation Showcase provided an opportunity for participants to interact with UA departments, start-up companies from the Arizona Center for Innovation, as well as get an early glimpse at the business plans of students from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

The Innovation Showcase Awards recognized student teams who developed business plans from the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management. The companies were judged on various aspects of their business presentation. The People's Choice Award was presented to the business venture that received the most Innovation Bucks from showcase attendees. Mindful Monkee, received the People's Choice award and $200 cash prize. Top student ventures overall were selected by a panel of judges comprised of angel investors and entrepreneurs. Two student teams won booth appeal. First place winner for booth appeal, OnwardPacks, received $250 cash prize and second place winner, Advanced Armor Applications, won $150 cash prize. Two student teams won communication and fluency awards. First place winner, MistoBox, received $250 cash prize and second place winner, Testab, won $150 cash prize.

Innovation Day at the UA was organized by the Office of University Research Parks and the Arizona Center for Innovation in partnership with the UA's Senior Vice President for Research, UA External Relations, Office of Technology Transfer, and the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship.

Innovation Day's title sponsor was Research Corporation for Science Advancement. Other sponsors included: Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Tech Council, BizTucson, Hecker and Muehlebach, PLLC., Tucson Electric Power and Strategy 1.

Innovation Day at the UA was an official Arizona Centennial Event as well as a signature event of the Arizona SciTech Festival.

 

 

See past events.  

We connect the University of Arizona community -- particularly its research enterprise -- with private sector businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

Our structure supports our ability to facilitate these connections.  We are located within the UA Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Studies.  The development, operation, marketing, and leasing of our research parks is managed through the Campus Research Corporation (CRC), an Arizona 501 c3, non-profit corporation.  

Our staff is a combination of University of Arizona employees and CRC employees -- all of whom report to the Associate Vice President for University Research Parks, who leads the Office of University of Research Parks.

Learn more about our parks’ governance.

The UA Tech Park is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in its field for moving beyond the “bricks and mortar” focus of many more traditional research parks.  Our parks are vibrant environments where community members can live, learn, work and play.  

In addition to providing first class facilities for technology companies, we work with diverse partner organizations to create environments that feature:

• Unique educational opportunities
• Recreational facilities
• Retail outlets
• A variety of housing options

The UA Tech Park is home to the Solar Zone, the largest multi-tenant, multi-technology testing and demonstration site in the United States.  It is also the only research park in the nation with educational institutions for students from kindergarten through college.

We see innovation as a process. It begins with an idea and moves through a series of stages to lead to successful commercialization of a new technology.  At each stage, entrepreneurs require specific resources and supports. Without them, even the best idea may not make it to the marketplace.

Our innovative approach to technology commercialization is grounded in this notion of the process of innovation, which we call the Innovation Continuum.  Through the Arizona Center for Innovation, the UA Tech Park, and the UA Bio Park, we work with companies at every stage of development -- moving from the laboratory to prototyping, testing, marketing, and assembly.

We create a supportive environment, where some of the nation’s most innovative companies thrive. Our companies range from Fortune 500 giants, such as IBM, Raytheon, and Citigroup, to start-ups -- companies whose names aren’t familiar today, but may create tomorrow’s big breakthrough.  They work in fields including:

• Aerospace and defense
• Biosciences and biotechnology
• Border security technology
• Information technology
• Optics/photonics
• Solar and renewable energy

Learn about the companies that are doing innovative work at the UA Tech Park and the Arizona Center for Innovation

Working with our partners, the Office of Technology Transfer and the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship, we promote innovation and entrepreneurship among UA faculty and students.  

Through our award-winning Innovation Day  program, we recognize and celebrate innovators in the UA community.  

We also assist faculty members and students to commercialize their research through enrollment in the Arizona Center for Innovation program.

We believe that our research parks are an asset to the community, and the community is an asset to our research parks.  That’s why our office has received national recognition for its commitment to community engagement.

Learn about some of our community projects and programs, including the Julian Wash Greenway, the UA Bio Park Pathway to Discovery, the Solar Go-Kart Race for high school students, ESTEEM High School,  and more.

Want to know more about how we involve the community in our parks? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director or Community Engagement.

We believe that our research parks are an asset to the community, and the community is an asset to our research parks.  That’s why our office has received national recognition for its commitment to community engagement.

Learn about some of our community projects and programs, including the Julian Wash Greenway, the UABioPark Pathway to Discovery, the Solar Go-Kart Race for high school students, ESTEEM High School,  and more.

Want to know more about how we involve the community in our parks? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Director or Community Engagement.

The Technology Innovation Awards recognize University of Arizona researchers for achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.

Awardees successfully move original research ideas and seminal findings into the disclosure, patent or registration process, and into the marketplace for the advancement of the local, national and international communities and economies.

Several awards are available and faculty, staff and students are eligible for the different awards – please review the nomination packets for specific requirements and qualifications and nomination procedures.

The Technology Innovation Award is presented to an established University researcher whose research findings have been commercialized in the form of a license, company-based enterprise or other publicly visible translation instrument.

Up to two Technology Innovation Awards are presented annually. Winners receive a commemorative plaque and a monetary prize of $10,000 to be used for research-related activities.

The Student Technology Innovation Award recognizes innovation and entrepreneurship among University of Arizona students. The award honors a student who has excelled in a technology-related internship, independent study, or research position. His or her work may contribute to the development, enhancement or commercialization of a new technology.

One Student Innovation Award is presented annually. The recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The UA at the Leading Edge Recognition is given to UA faculty or UA research projects that are performing cutting-edge research. UA at the Leading Edge showcases the best of the UA research that also shows potential for commercial applications.

Up to five UA at the Leading Edge Awards are presented annually. The recipients receive a commemorative plaque. A session during Innovation Day at the UA is dedicated to the UA at the Leading Edge projects.

Many Thanks to our Sponsers!

About the Honorees and Awards
Innovation Day at the UA recognizes University of Arizona researchers for achievements in translating original ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace for the advancement of local, national and international communities and economies.  UA at the Leading Edge showcases the best of University research that also demonstrates potential for commercial applications.  The Technology Innovation Award is presented to an established University researcher whose research findings have been commercialized; and the Student Technology Innovation Award honors a University student who has excelled in a technology-related internship, study, or research project.