Events

Interdisciplinary Innovators Exchange

Announcing the inaugural theme of the Interdisciplinary Innovators Exchange series:

Interdisciplinary Innovators Exchange

国产短视频Faculty Forward: Partnering with Industry for Impact

This year鈥檚 theme鈥国产短视频Faculty Forward: Partnering with Industry for Impact鈥攕potlights the power of collaboration between academia and industry to drive meaningful change. Designed to equip faculty with practical knowledge, real-world insights, and essential resources, this year鈥檚 focus will explore how researchers can deepen industry engagement, enhance readiness for collaborative innovation and commercialization, and amplify research impact across sectors.

Faculty will uncover diverse pathways to partnership, learn to navigate university support systems, and gain actionable strategies for building and sustaining relationships with external stakeholders. From funding opportunities like SBIR/STTR to commercialization readiness and entrepreneurial thinking, this year鈥檚 series empowers faculty to confidently communicate the value of their research and connect with peers and industry leaders to spark innovation and impact.

This year鈥檚 series is facilitated by the 国产短视频Research Development Institute, in close collaboration with key partners across the university鈥檚 vibrant innovation ecosystem, including the Florida High Tech Corridor, 国产短视频CONNECT, the 国产短视频Technology Transfer Office, the NSF I-Corps Hub, the 国产短视频Foundation, and others. Working together, these partners can help unlock the full potential of USF鈥檚 innovation ecosystem鈥攍inking faculty to the tools, talent, and opportunities that turn bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs.

Upcoming Sessions & Events

Innovators Exchange

Innovation in Action: Faculty Stories of Industry Engagement
September 30th, 2025
12:00 鈥 1:00 PM EST 
Microsoft Teams
 
Real impact starts with real stories. This kickoff session highlights faculty across disciplines who have successfully partnered with industry to drive research, innovation, and student opportunity.

More about the Interdisciplinary Innovators Exchange 

Innovators Exchange logo

The Interdisciplinary Innovators Exchange series is a new, forward-looking professional development initiative designed to equip 国产短视频faculty with the tools, insights, and strategies to lead transformative interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and industry engaged research.

The series aims to empower faculty with the tools and resources to build cross-sector collaborations and drive innovation that resonates across academia, industry, government, and communities.

Bringing together thought leaders, experienced researchers, and institutional experts, the series explores the full spectrum of innovation-driven research鈥攆rom scaling early-career efforts to forging strategic partnerships and translating ideas into real-world solutions. Through engaging discussions and expert insights, faculty will learn how to grow their research agendas, connect with external partners, and communicate the value of their work across cross-sector audiences. Sessions feature practical strategies, real-world lessons, and insider perspectives on topics such as:

Interdisciplinary research collaboration and capacity building

  • lessons learned from early research career and how to strategically scale research efforts for maximum impact
  • importance of inter or trans-disciplinary research to research and career development
  • understanding and articulating broader impact of research across the academy, industry, and communities as well as locally, regionally and globally
  • how to create a long-term research agenda and build an infrastructure and ecosystem to support it

Strategic planning for research career and growth 

  • uncovering your next 鈥渂ig鈥 idea鈥攈ow to design an evolving research agenda
  • developing successful, lasting, and sustainable relationships with program officers, industry partners, mentors, etc.
  • an inside look at opportunities, awards and grants that changed your research trajectory and successful techniques potential applicants should consider
  • an inside look at awards and grants that changed your research trajectory

Practical skills for research development 

  • how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, business plan or manage a lab
  • how to articulate, communicate, and sell your project鈥檚 vision and impact to stakeholders across academic leadership, industry, government, and beyond
  • strategies for aligning research with key areas of industry needs and engaging partners
  • how to develop an industry engaged capstone course

Whether you're launching a new initiative, expanding your research agenda, or seeking to align your work with cross-sector needs, this series offers a dynamic space to learn, connect, and lead with impact.