July ’24 Industry and Innovation Highlights
Highlights:
ASPIRE and our IIB have been on the move over the past few months. In April, we joined the ITS America annual conference with over 1,000 attendees, advocating for and supporting our partners while spreading the word on electrification at multiple events. Our leadership team has also welcomed a few new members to our IIB. Stay tuned to learn more about them as we finalize their memberships!
- New IIB Members!
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) has joined as an Innovation Member. Two additional Industry Members have signed their membership agreements and are in the final stages of formalizing their memberships. Stay tuned to learn out more about our partners!
- ITS America Annual Conference: April 23 – 25
ASPIRE made a notable presence at ITS America’s annual conference, which saw over 1,000 attendees! Our REDI directors, Don Linford (Innovation Ecosystem) and Dr. Steve Pekarek (Research/Purdue University), along with Industry & Innovation Board Members AECOM and Michigan DOT, led an engaging panel discussion. The session was attended by over 35 participants, and covered dynamic wireless charging strategic pilots, partnerships, and industry updates.
- Center-Wide Webinar – The Role of Intellectual Property In Entrepreneurship: May 1
Dr. Noel Anderson, Intellectual Property Lead for the Intelligent Solutions Group at John Deere–Fargo, delivered an engaging presentation on entrepreneurship focused on “Closing the gap between business and science”. He shared his expertise on various types of intellectual property, explained how patents typically drive investment in technology and product development and illustrated the crucial link between intellectual property and the commercialization of university research. Our students gained valuable insights into the entrepreneurial process and the strategic importance of intellectual property in bringing innovative ideas to market.
- Isuzu North America Visit: May 24
Representatives from Isuzu, one of the world’s leading automotive companies headquartered in Japan, visited ASPIRE May 24th, 2024. This productive meeting explored exciting opportunities for collaboration on Class 6 and 7 trucks, highlighting our commitment to advancing the future of transportation together.
- HNTB Lunch and Learn: May 31
Don Linford and Bartly Mathews hosted a “lunch and learn” at the HNTB offices in Midvale, Utah, providing an insightful overview of ASPIRE and the Utah Electrification initiative. HNTB has hired eight talented interns from ASPIRE’s affiliated campuses, Utah State University and the University of Utah, showcasing the strong partnership and commitment to nurturing future leaders in electrification.
- American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Webinar: June 18
Michael Masquelier, Chief Commercial Officer, and Don Linford, Innovation Ecosystem Director, hosted a webinar for the members of AAPA where they discussed and answered questions about the linkage of the electrified roadways pilots and the clean port initiatives.