Following on the heels of last fall’s highly successful Aerospace and Defense Technology Day, UNHInnovation hosted another industry specific event focused on promoting innovation and industry/university collaboration with companies interested in data research, networking, and analytics. UNH Data Day was held on April 6th in Huddleston Hall and brought over 50 representatives from data-related businesses to meet and network with UNH faculty whose research could be of interest to the data field. Each faculty and attendee company was given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the room and describe their needs, interests, or activities. Attendees then participated in a research “sandpit” – a highly interactive networking session were they could seek out other attendees with similar interests. UNH researchers and industry representatives met and mingled, then moved on every five minutes, speed-dating style, for maximum interaction and networking. The activity was designed to help companies and researchers identify and develop potential projects and partnerships, solve business challenges, and accelerate scientific innovation in data-based tools and technology. The research sandpits are part of a larger initiative to foster entrepreneurship on campus and support the maturation of innovations developed at UNH, which is being funded through a recently awarded $300,000 I-Corps Site Grant from the National Science Foundation.
Following the morning’s networking activity, the attendees were invited to take a tour of UNH's world-renowned InterOperability Lab and the Connectivity Research Center in their new facility in downtown Durham. The day’s events were concluded with a networking cocktail hour in the Alpha Loft at the UNH ECenter, which also shares the Durham space.
UNH has serious expertise in networking and data communications testing, data analytics, research computing, integrated applied math, and more. Many local companies could benefit from that expertise in their pursuits to innovate and commercialize new ideas. UNH Data Day provided a great opportunity for UNH to showcase its resources and work in data-related research and provided companies and researchers the chance to meet face-to-face to learn and collaborate. UNHInnovation received wonderful feedback from both faculty and industry attendees about connections they made throughout the day that will hopefully lead to new partnerships.
UNHInnovation plans to host these industry events at least twice a year. For more information about UNH Data Day and our upcoming industry events, please feel free to contact me at ellen.chisto@unh.edu or 603-862-5446.
UNH Data Day was hosted by UNHInnovation in partnership with NH High Tech Council.
Ellen Christo
Director of Strategic Partnerships
