UW to Celebrate Innovation and Entrepreneurship During Innovation Week Oct. 5-8

The University of Wyoming will host Innovation Week 2026 Monday-Thursday, Oct. 5-8, featuring events that highlight research, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and economic engagement at UW and across Wyoming.

The week will bring together UW faculty, staff and students with entrepreneurs, industry partners, government representatives and members of the Wyoming community to explore opportunities to move innovative ideas and research discoveries toward real-world applications.

“UW has a unique role in Wyoming’s innovation ecosystem. Our researchers, students and partners are developing ideas that can address real challenges, strengthen communities and create new opportunities across the state,” says Parag Chitnis, UW’s vice president for research and economic development. “Innovation Week gives us an opportunity to showcase that work and demonstrate the incredible breadth of innovation happening across the university.”

Innovation Week will open Monday, Oct. 5, with UW’s Economic Engagement Summit at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. The summit will feature a full day of programming focused on UW’s role in supporting Wyoming’s economic prosperity by developing talent, advancing innovation, and strengthening the places and partnerships that help Wyoming communities thrive.

The summit will open with the UW Technology Showcase that will highlight how university research translates into real-world impact. The showcase, slated from 10 a.m.-noon, will feature projects funded by UW’s National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program. The ART initiative is dedicated to bridging the gap between academic discovery and real-world impact. Michael Urynowicz, CEO of EnWyo, will open the session with a keynote address, followed by UW inventors sharing their innovations.

Mike Freeman, CEO of Innosphere, is the luncheon speaker from noon-1 p.m. He will share insights from regional innovation ecosystems, exploring how universities, industry and communities can collaborate to strengthen entrepreneurship, support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent and research, and drive economic impact.

After lunch, the UW’s Innovation Hub Showcase will feature three sessions, from 1-4 p.m., that will highlight the university’s contributions to the development of talent, innovation and place.

The talent development session will explore how UW’s College of Business helps people turn ideas, technology and passions into new ventures. From coursework to entrepreneurship competitions, these programs work together to create a pipeline for entrepreneurship development and venture formation for UW students, faculty and researchers.

During the innovation session, three UW startups will present how they help solve real-world challenges through new technologies and entrepreneurship. Featuring Power Theory, IronForge Automation and EcosAtlas, the panel will explore how UW innovation moves from campus into the marketplace, creating practical solutions, new opportunities and economic impact across the state.

The place session will highlight UW’s role as a community and economic partner across Wyoming. It will showcase how the university supports entrepreneurs, businesses and communities through innovation, entrepreneurship and place-based initiatives. Leaders from EdgeFlyte, MiMi’s at The Blake in Rawlins and Uplink Robotics will discuss their experiences building businesses and creating opportunities in Wyoming communities. Together, these stories illustrate how UW and its partners can help strengthen local economies and contribute to Wyoming’s long-term economic vitality.

The summit concludes with an evening reception from 5-7 p.m. in the Gateway Center breezeway. The reception will provide an opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners over drinks and light refreshments while continuing the day’s conversations.

Additionally on Monday, the first-ever UW Science Institute STEM Engagement Symposium will bring together UW faculty, staff and students to present their efforts to engage learners and communities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The symposium will feature discussions on STEM engagement in Wyoming; exhibits of undergraduate and K-12 research and learning programs; and opportunities to connect with UW and outside experts through a poster showcase and reception from 4:30-7 p.m.

Innovation Week continues Wednesday, Oct. 7, with a virtual U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer webinar from noon-1 p.m. and Meet the Founders, an opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs about their experiences developing and launching innovative ventures, from 2-4 p.m. in Wyoming Union Family Room 212.

During Meet the Founders, attendees can hear firsthand from Wyoming-based companies Power Theory, IronForge Automation and EcosAtlas as those companies share their journeys from UW students to startup founders. This panel offers students an inside look at what it takes to turn an idea into a company, navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship, and build a startup while connected to the UW community.   

On Thursday, Oct. 8, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will offer an “IP Overview and Resources” virtual session from noon-1 p.m. presented by Deepak Dashairya, an innovation specialist of national programs for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Attendees will learn the basics of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets; how to identify the IP in your innovation; and why protecting it matters as a company moves from idea to product. The session also will highlight local resources available to help innovators and entrepreneurs navigate IP protection.

The webinar will be followed by the Wyoming Innovation Factory, a hands-on challenge that brings UW students together to develop solutions to real-world Wyoming problems using emerging technologies. This event is 1:15-3:15 p.m. in Wyoming Union Family Room 212.

The week concludes with a faculty connections mixer from 4-6:30 p.m. in Room 255 of the Engineering Education and Research Building. Join UW faculty members to hear about ongoing research projects that highlight the work of incoming faculty -- assistant professors and research scientists -- and to mingle with colleagues over refreshments.

Additional details and event times will be announced as they become available.

Innovation Week is part of UW’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the university’s role in Wyoming’s economic prosperity by supporting research translation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and partnerships with industry and communities.

For more information about Innovation Week and a complete schedule of events, go to UW Innovation Week.
 

To register for Innovation Week events, visit the Innovation Week registration page.