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The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is hosting again DeepTechUa business conference that brings together global investors and deep-tech startups in the greater Midwest.
“Last year's inaugural DeepTechU was the largest venture conference in the Midwest and demonstrated the breadth and weight of the region's deep tech community,” said Jay Schrankler, associate vice president and head of the Polsky Center. “The University of Chicago is excited to partner with more than a dozen research universities and national labs to showcase the latest deep-tech startups coming out of our institutions.”
Taking place May 3-5, 2022, the all-virtual conference will feature fast-paced presentations and discussions with industry experts, investors and entrepreneurs.
>> To join DeepTechU, Click here.
“Following the success of last year's conference, which attracted nearly 1,000 attendees from around the world, we are excited to once again bring science and capital together to advance breakthrough innovations that can change the way we live and work,” said Juan de Pablo, executive vice president. chair of science, innovation, national laboratories and global initiatives at the University of Chicago. “As home to several world-class universities, with leading efforts in materials science and engineering, bioengineering, sustainability, energy research, quantum information sciences, data science and artificial intelligence, as well as two prominent Department of Energy laboratories of the USA, Argonne and FermilabMidwest is uniquely positioned to lead in deep-range technology.”
The goal of DeepTechU is twofold: to provide investors with early screening of cutting-edge technology innovation coming from universities, national laboratories and other organizations in the greater Midwest region, and to educate faculty inventors and other researchers on how to successfully scale up capital for their startups.
“This event offers incredible exposure to emerging technologies that could save lives, streamline businesses and improve society in so many ways,” said Nancy Sullivan, CEO and CEO of Illinois Ventures. “The Midwest is filled with deep technology innovation and investment-ready talent to make the leap from lab to market.”
Sullivan will present opening remarks to University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, who will lead a keynote address on Deep Tech and the great wave of innovation. Additional featured conversations include a conversation between Megan Clifford, associate laboratory director at Argonne National Laboratory, and Andrea Belz, director of industrial innovation and partnerships at the National Science Foundation, as well as a conversation between Kayla Lee, product manager for strategic alliances for IBM Quantum and Brad Henderson, CEO of P33, a nonprofit focused on inclusive growth for Chicago's tech sector.
“The contribution of academic, industry and investment perspectives to DeepTechU reflects the strength of the region's growing deep technology ecosystem,” said Henderson. “From quantum technology to the life sciences, Chicago and the greater Midwest are poised to be at the center of bringing deep technology innovations to the real world.”
The conference is presented in collaboration with Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois Institute of Technology, Indiana University, Crossroads of innovation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship at Ohio State University, Purdue University, Northwestern University, Rutgers University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Minnesotaand Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). Sponsored by World Business Chicago.
“Chicago is home to one of the best university and research innovation ecosystems in the world,” said Michael Fassnacht, president and CEO of World Business Chicago and chief marketing officer for the City of Chicago. “World Business Chicago is proud to sponsor DeepTechU 2022, a first-of-its-kind effort that will demonstrate how important Chicago's deep tech startups are to our city's growing reputation as a place for tech innovation.”
For more information and to register for the conference, visit deeptechu.com.
