Highlights from the 2016 Pittsburgh Fulbright Lab to Market: Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation Enrichment Seminar

Prior to the collapse of the U.S. steel industry, Pittsburgh was known as a powerhouse for both coal mining and steel. Today, Pittsburgh is still called the Steel City, but now finds itself at the forefront of high-tech innovation and entrepreneurship.

The 2016 Lab to Market: Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation Enrichment Seminar gathered 132 Foreign Fulbrighters from 64 countries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 24 – 28, 2016 to exchange ideas with a focus on how technological advances can support achievements across scientific and business disciplines. The seminar included discussions with Pittsburgh-based entrepreneurs who are bringing technological products and services to the marketplace.

Babs Carryer, Director of Education and Outreach for the University of Pittsburgh’s Innovation Institute, used her extensive expertise on technological commercialization to guide informative panel discussions, and create a workshop that blended concepts of technology and entrepreneurship to create innovative solutions to solve global issues.

The opening dinner was hosted at the Senator John Heinz History Center. Fulbrighters listened to remarks from Thomas Petzinger Jr., founder of LaunchCyte LLC, about his extensive experience in creating biotechnology startups and the lessons he learned in innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership during his keynote address.

Key Highlights from the 2016 Lab to Market: Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation Enrichment Seminar:

• On Tuesday, February 24, students took self-guided tours of two exhibits at the Senator John Heinz History Center. The Pittsburgh: A tradition of Innovation exhibit celebrates 250 years of Pittsburgh innovations, and the Toys of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s exhibit showcased the nation’s most popular toys and reflected on three decades of dynamic changes in American culture.
• Fulbrighters took the opportunity to interact and preview new technological innovations at local tech organizations, including CREATE Lab, Human Engineering Research Laboratories and Tech Shop.
• On Thursday, May 26, students engaged in cultural activities at the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, Carrie Blast Furnaces, at the former U.S. Steel Homestead Works and The Frick Art and Historical Center. Many of the sites such as the Carrie Blast Furnaces demonstrate the history of Pittsburgh, and how it has since diversified at the end of the steel industry era.
• The closing dinner was held at the Grand Concourse which is housed in the historic Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station.

It was a great time and we enjoyed seeing you all in Pittsburgh!