We want you to get the most out of your UIDP Chicago 2025 experience, and that means plenty of opportunities for you to connect with other attendees. All networking events are open to registered attendees.

Dates, time and locations are subject to change; check back often for updates.

Receptions

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 • 6-7:15 p.m. CT
Kick-off Reception
Join CannonDesign, Collaborative Real Estate, and The University Financing Foundation for a welcome reception at CannonDesign’s Chicago office—just steps away from the Swissotel. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments before heading to small group dinners.

Reception Sponsors:

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 • 5:30-7:30 p.m. CT
Reception
Unwind with colleagues at the Swissotel on the 42nd floor of the Eleve Ballroom.

Enjoy a Chicago-themed dining experience featuring food stations inspired by Greektown, Pilsen Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Gold Coast.

Take part in unique interactive experiences:

•  Custom UIDP Chicago Swag: Choose a tote bag or t-shirt and personalize it through a live on-site heat press with local vendor Chicago Signs. 
•  Digital Caricatures: Receive a caricature with a Chicago-themed background, created by a local artist and available as a print or digital copy.

Small Group Dinners

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025 • 7:30-9 p.m. CT

Small group dinners create an intimate networking experience to expand your connections and build relationships. Each attendee is responsible for their own check and transportation.

Small Group Dinner Facilitators
Facilitators will be removed from the signup form as an option when their table becomes full.

Kevin Byrne, TUFF | Shaw's Crab House (table full)
John Creel, Pillar Science | Robert's Pizza and Dough Co. (table full)
Melissa Erekson, UI Collab | Avli on the Park (table full)
Istvan Fetek, Attain Partners | Il Porcellino
Jim Hudgens, UL Research Institutes | Shaw's Crab House
Bhushan Kulkarni, InfoReady | Gibson's Italia
Laura McIntosh, Digital Science | Gibson's Italia (table full)
Hiroshi Otani, Kureha America | Il Porcellino

Lunch Table Topics

Two days of lunch table topic discussions! Grab your lunch and choose a table with a designated topic. You may join in the discussion of your choice to meet and interact with other attendees with similar interests. No sign-up is required; it's first come, first serve. Additional topics will be added.

Tuesday, September 16

• Preparing Faculty to Engage with Industry with Melissa Erekson, UI Collab
• GenAI and the Research Workflow with Ann Gabriel, Elsevier
• Modernizing U–I Partnerships: SAMI Unpacked with Deborah Radasch, UIDP
• The Convergence of Athletics and Innovation Spaces with Christopher Jahn, CannonDesign
• Adapting to New Funding Realities: Strategies to Discover Hidden Corporate Partners with Karim Bouayad-Gervais, Pillar Science
• Relevance of Innovation Districts in a Changing R&D Environment with Kevin Byrne, TUFF
• Building New Wholistic Industry-University Partnerships with Matt Streb, Northern Illinois University
• Innovation Districts and their Impact: An Open Discussion with Jordan Peterson and David Tyndall, Collaborative Real Estate
• Solving Talent Bottlenecks for Translational Work and Start-Ups with Alan Thomas and Jon Gordon, Sheer Velocity
• Collaborating with UW-Madison with John Garnetti, UW Madison
• Saudi Arabia & Vision 2030: Opportunities for Global Research Partnerships with Husameddin Saleh A. Almadani, KFUPM

Wednesday, September 17

• Exploring Collaboration with Kureha with Junpei Suzuki and Hiroshi Otani, Kureha America
• Japan 2026 with Tony Boccanfuso, UIDP
• Preparing Industry Researchers to Engage with Academia with Melissa Erekson, UI Collab
• Data-Powered Partnerships with Laura McIntosh, Digital Science
• Leveraging AI - Building a Licensing-Ready Pipeline for Emerging Technologies with Justin Rerko, Tradespace
• Using AI In Research: Operational and Contractual Considerations with Istvan Fekete, Attain Partners
• Transforming Water Quality Management with Data and AI: A Kansas State University & SAS Collaboration with Leah Burton, SAS
• NEURO360: Transforming the St. Louis Region into a Center for Neuroscience Research Translation, Commercialization, and Workforce Development with Eric Gulve, BioSTL and Kurt Thoroughman, Washington University in St. Louis
• Societal Impact and Storytelling with Mike Willey, Elsevier
• Collaboration and Innovation in Biologic and Advanced Therapy Bioprocessing with Sarah Windsor, Fujifilm
• Tools for Scaling University-Industry Partnerships with Bhushan Kulkarni, InfoReady
• Samsung's LEAP-U Program: Proactive University Engagement for Emerging Tech Research with David Chang, Samsung Research America
• Monetizing IP to Raise Capital with Alex Wallace and Roy D'Souza, Loop Capital
• NSF TIP with Bridget Turaga, NSF
• Modernizing U–I Partnerships: SAMI Unpacked with Deborah Radasch, UIDP
• Engineering Research Visioning Alliance with Sandy Mau, UIDP

Headshots

Wednesday, September 17 | 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zurich Foyer

Whether you’re looking to update your LinkedIn profile, enhance your professional brand, or refresh your faculty or staff directory photo, we’ve got you covered.

Stop by our complimentary headshot station during the conference to capture a polished, high-quality image that reflects your best professional self. A great headshot can open doors, make a lasting first impression, and help you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in yourself! Slots will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to arrive early.

Sponsored by:

Networking Walk & Run

Thursday, September 18 | 6:30 a.m.
Meet in the Swissotel lobby

Join us for a Networking Walk & Run to start the day with fresh air, movement, and great conversation. We’ll meet in the Swissoel lobby before splitting into two groups—a 1-mile walk at a comfortable pace for casual networking and a 2-mile run for those looking to pick up the pace while making connections.

Whether you prefer a brisk walk or a light jog, this is a great opportunity to meet fellow attendees, enjoy the outdoors, and energize for the day ahead. All paces and fitness levels are welcome!

• Networking Walk Registration
• Networking Run Registration

Tours

Thursday, Sept. 18
Tour guides will meet participants after the last session at the tour site. Details will be provided before the tours.

River & Lake Architectural Tour | 75 Minutes | Tour is full
Soak in unobstructed views of Chicago’s world-famous architecture from the water with an exciting ride on our Seadog River and Lake Architectural Tour! Start the tour at Navy Pier and sail through the Chicago Harbor Locks to the River’s iconic skyscrapers. Enjoy amusing and informative narration for a fascinating tour through the city’s architectural history as you pass the Civic Opera House, the Merchandise Mart, and the Willis Tower. Buckle up for a thrilling finale on Lake Michigan to top off this family and dog-friendly experience and cruise along the skyline at top Seadog speed! This is a narrated architecture tour on the Chicago River with City Cruises' Seadog vessels.
Location: Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60611

UL Research Institutes' Materials Discovery Research Institute Tour
Join us for an exclusive tour of UL Research Institutes' Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI), where groundbreaking science meets real-world impact. Explore their brand-new, state-of-the-art materials chemistry lab designed to accelerate the discovery of safer, smarter materials. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how MDRI blends advanced chemistry, automation, and data science to fast-track materials breakthroughs. You'll hear how their work is shaping the future of safety in everything from batteries to consumer tech.  A shuttle will be provided for transportation to and from the tour site for your convenience.
Location: 8045 Lamon Ave Suite 320 & 360 Skokie, IL 60077