Pioneering technologies, leading research highlighted at inaugural WestGate technology showcase

Pioneering technologies and leading research from across the State of Indiana were highlighted at the inaugural WestGate technology showcase. (Image provided) Download image

ODON, Ind. – The state’s top research institutions were featured at WestGate Academy for the first-ever State of Indiana Technology Showcase. Dozens of pioneering innovations available for licensing were presented, ranging from medical devices to analytical tools.

The showcase on Sept. 25 brought together talent from academia, industry and government for technologies in the areas of medical, agriculture, materials and other fields.

“We modeled the event on Purdue Research Foundation’s Technology Showcase, which is a great success every spring,” said Jason Salstrom, director of the Purdue Foundry at WestGate. “The inspiration for all of Indiana's leading research institutions converging under one roof was born of Purdue@WestGate’s ongoing collaboration with the Indiana Office of Defense Development and the Indiana Innovation Institute. Their missions of leveraging our state's extraordinary intellectual capital toward new innovation and economic opportunity aligns well with Purdue's land-grant mission to advance new technologies to the betterment of society.”

This recent showcase featured 30 researchers from Purdue University; the University of Notre Dame; Indiana University; University of Southern Indiana; Ivy Tech; and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division.

They described their innovations in three minutes or less before international company representatives, investors and entrepreneurs. They also had booth spaces where they could present their technologies to interested attendees in a more private fashion and discuss licensing opportunities.

The venue for the showcase was the WestGate Academy, which is a prime example of the unique culture of working together in Indiana. Under one roof, WestGate has Purdue University, Indiana University and the University of Southern Indiana represented, with close working relationships with NSWC Crane, the Battery Innovation Center and industry partners.

Sponsors for the Indiana Technology Showcase included the Indiana Innovation Institute and the Indiana Office of Defense Development.            

About Purdue@WestGate 

Purdue@WestGate is an economic development accelerator formed by the partnership between WestGate Authority, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), Purdue University and Purdue Research Foundation. The Indiana-based collaboration combines strengths to advance educational, research and development, and technology commercialization across Indiana and elsewhere. Purdue@WestGate offers tools for startups, entrepreneurial experts, programs, educational opportunities and workforce development to help southern Indiana businesses grow and thrive. For more information about the resources available to businesses, visit Purdue@WestGate.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org

Source: Jason Salstrom, jdsalstrom@prf.org