UA Research Office to Host Innovation Day

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — From a student-run company offering small-loans to fellow entrepreneurs to a faculty member’s approach to lowering replacement costs for electric vehicle batteries, a variety of innovative approaches will be outlined during The University of Alabama’s first Innovation Day set for Friday, Nov. 15.

Anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation is invited to attend the event in the Rast Room of the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus. It begins at 9 a.m. with opening remarks by Dr. Carl Pinkert, UA’s vice president for research, and it concludes about 3:15 p.m.

“Attendees will be able to network with others and ask questions during panel discussions and breaks,” said Dr. Richard Swatloski, director of UA’s Office for Technology Transfer, a co-sponsor of the event, along with UA’s Bama Technology Incubator and the Culverhouse College of Commerce. “As innovation and entrepreneurial activities have increased on campus, the Office of Research needed another vehicle to highlight these activities,” Swatloski said.

An outside panel of business start-up experts from across the Southeast will discuss such topics as what’s needed to launch a successful business and what it’s like to run a start-up company. Mixed in throughout the day will be presentations by a dozen campus and local start-up businesses and innovators with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Finalists in a UA Culverhouse College of Commerce Concept Pitch Competition will also present, and winners will be announced.