Texas Universities Leading In Innovation
Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026 Panel: “Texas Universities Leading In Innovation”, Moderated by Princeton University Office of Innovation, Christine Galib
The panel featured Texas State University Director of Venture Development, Matt Sorenson; Austin Technology Incubator CEO (an official University of Texas program); Texas McCombs School of Business Lecturer, Richard Amato; and Texas A&M University System Director of Strategic Partnerships (Innovation), Chris Scotti.
“What I appreciated most about the conversation and questions was the optimistic focus on opportunities vs. reiterating challenges. What should the role of universities be regarding venture/investment"? How can investors, entrepreneurs, founders, and innovation leaders engage with universities? How to build innovation infrastructure that leverages “market pull” vs. “technology push” to bring ideas to real impact?” said Sorenson. “Glad that we could share about Texas State University Innovation, Commercialization & Engagement, Texas State University, Texas State University Research, Texas State STAR Park.” More comments here.
Panelists discussed how universities can move at the speed of business, break down barriers between technology and business, and work together rather than operate in silos. The conversation highlighted proof of concept support, customer discovery, incubators, accelerators, and stronger connections with industry and investors.
“At Texas A&M Innovation and across Texas A&M University System, we’re increasingly focused on connecting startups, investors, industry, sponsored research, testing & evaluation, and commercialization pathways into a more coordinated innovation ecosystem for Texas,” Scotti said. Read more here.
Speakers also emphasized creating a clear front door for innovation so entrepreneurs can more easily find the people and resources needed to move ideas toward the marketplace.
“To all building innovation ecosystems: keep chasing the rainbows, even and especially when rainstorms are all you see,” said Galib. “The people brave enough to keep building, the people “pulled by” the vision, the people obsessed with changing the world—and changing it for good and for the good—are the ones who actually do.” Read more from her recap here.
University Innovation leaders convene at the Texas State Capitol
Princeton University is an Ivy League research institution located in Princeton, New Jersey, with its Office of Innovation supporting technology licensing, new ventures, industry partnerships, and programs that help transform university discoveries into startups and real-world solutions.
Texas State University is a major public research university headquartered in San Marcos in the Central Texas Hill Country, along the rapidly growing Austin–San Antonio corridor, with an additional campus in Round Rock. In 2026, it became the Pac-12 Conference’s only Texas member—an important milestone in the university’s growing national profile—while its innovation ecosystem includes venture-development and commercialization support, the Center for Student Entrepreneurship, STAR Park, and BobCatalyst.
Texas State recorded more than $183 million in research expenditures in fiscal year 2025, the highest in its history, while patent applications increased 147% and licensing income grew 90%. The university is progressing toward Carnegie R1 classification and investing more than $300 million across five priority research areas: artificial intelligence, semiconductors, water and conservation, dementia and aging, and the digital humanities.
The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System and a leading public research university located in Austin with it’s entrepreneurship ecosystem including the Austin Technology Incubator (the longest-running active technology incubator in the United States) and programs across Texas McCombs that provide startup education, mentorship, commercialization assistance, investor access, and hands-on venture-building opportunities.
The Texas A&M University System is one of the country’s largest higher-education systems, headquartered in College Station in East-Central Texas and encompassing 11 universities, a health-science center, eight state agencies, and additional facilities throughout the state. Texas A&M Innovation protects and commercializes intellectual property from across the System while helping researchers form startups, secure industry partnerships, access development funding, license technologies, and move discoveries into the marketplace.
This Texas Venture Gala & Forum panel recap was made possible by our Editorial Partner, Texas State University. Their McCoy College of Business Center for Student Entrepreneurship program exists to prepare the next generation of founders to build ventures that matter. Learn more about their innovation and commercialization here. Check out the entire Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026 recap here.
