Marshall to host Catalyze Marshall, a World Creativity and Innovation Week event April 20

Marshall University will host Catalyze Marshall, an interactive event designed to inspire innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking across campus and the region, on April 20.  The day-long event takes place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Don Morris Room of the Memorial Student Center as part of World Creativity and Innovation Week.

Developed by faculty and staff across Marshall University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem — including the College of Arts and Media, the College of Science, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the Marshall University Technology Transfer Office and Marshall University Research Corp. — the event will bring together students, faculty, staff, creatives, entrepreneurs and community members. Attendees will celebrate past and current innovative collaborations and explore creative problem-solving techniques, intellectual property protection and new venture development.

Catalyze Marshall reflects the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth throughout West Virginia and the Appalachian region. Through networking opportunities, guided programming and hands-on activities, participants will engage in design thinking and ideation processes addressing real-world challenges, led by Marshall’s iCenter and its medical innovation partner, Intermed Labs.

The event will feature keynote speaker Brian Joseph, president and CEO of Touchstone Research Laboratory. Widely recognized as West Virginia’s “modern-day Edison,” Joseph holds more than 30 patents and has launched multiple companies rooted in advanced research and technology.

“Catalyze Marshall reflects the very best of who we are, a community united by purpose, collaboration and a drive to innovate,” said Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. “When we bring together diverse perspectives and empower our students, faculty and partners with the space and support to connect, we don’t just share ideas, we create momentum for solutions that can truly make a difference.”

The event will include:

• Collaborative design-thinking sessions
• Opportunities to connect with innovators and mentors
• Exposure to entrepreneurial tools and resources and
• Cross-disciplinary engagement with Marshall’s innovation ecosystem.

Catalyze Marshall is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. The event is free, but registration is required as space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

Sponsors include Stites & Harbison PLLC, Quality Insights ThinkSpace, Marshall University Research Corp. and the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center.

For more information or to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/catalyzemarshall.