OMAHA, Nebraska (November 4, 2024)—Innovation Week in 2024 begins this morning with an open house at 9 a.m. in the Durham Research Center atrium, followed by a virtual seminar during the lunch hour.

Hosted by UNeMed, the technology transfer and commercialization office for UNMC and UNO, the 18th annual Innovation Week celebrates and recognizes the world-class research and discovery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Today’s Kick-off event will feature doughnuts, coffee, T-shirts and other freebies, along with a chance for attendees to meet UNeMed staff.

Later today, UNeMed will host a virtual seminar, “The Ins and Outs of Ideation,” at noon. The hour-long seminar will be hosted via Zoom at bit.ly/Ideation2024.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, at noon, UNeMed will host another hour-long seminar, “The Design Thinking Experience.” This in-person seminar will be held in the Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library’s Design Hub. Presenters will walk attendees through the process of approaching a healthcare challenge using Design Thinking methodology.

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, at noon, UNeMed will host a panel discussion covering options for those interested in a scientific career away from the research bench. That discussion will be held in room 1005 in the Durham Research Center I, and a boxed lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

The week concludes with a busy day of events on Thursday, Nov. 4.

First, at 10:30 a.m.-noon in the McGoogan Library, UNeMed will host a hands-on workshop to help people get started on projects using 3D design and printing. Attendees can expect to learn their way around a 3D printer and how to make the most of the free maker software and equipment available inside the Jim and Karen Linder Maker Studio.

At noon, staff from the UNeTech Institute will host a lunch-and-learn seminar “UNeTech Services Showcase” as a virtual and in-person event. A free boxed lunch will be provided while supplies last to guest who attend in person, in Room 1004 in DRCI. To attend via Zoom, follow this link: bit.ly/2024UNeTechShowcase.

Innovation Week concludes on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 7, with the Innovation Awards in the Catalyst building’s event space, located at the northern end of the building, near the intersection of Farnam Street and Saddle Creek Road.

The Awards will honor all UNMC and UNO inventors who disclosed a new invention, received an issued U.S. patent, or had their technology licensed during the previous fiscal year. Special awards for Innovator of the Year, Faculty Entrepreneur, Innovation Champion, Startup of the Year and the Most Promising New Invention of 2024 will also be presented.

All events are free and open to the public, but the Awards reception is by invitation only. Further details can be found on UNeMed’s Innovation Week page.