Date
Sept. 22-24, 2026

Location
History Colorado Ctr.
Denver, CO

Speakers
80+

Shaping What’s Next in University-Industry Partnerships

Focused on What Matters Most

This year’s program focuses on three priority areas shaping how university–industry partnerships are evolving:

Reimagining IP Management

Move beyond transactional approaches to intellectual property and toward models that reduce friction, increase flexibility, and better align with partnership goals and impact.

Talent Development

Advance new approaches to doctoral education and workforce development that better prepare talent for careers across sectors and strengthen the connection between research and workforce needs.

Industry-Initiated Opportunities

Advance more effective ways to identify, shape, and launch collaborative research, bringing industry engagement earlier into the process and reducing the friction required to move from shared interest to active partnership.

From Insight to Action

UIDP Denver brings together big-picture perspective and hands-on engagement.

You will gain a clear view of how university-industry partnerships are evolving, what is changing, what is driving it, and what it means for your work. Then you will work alongside peers to tackle shared challenges and develop practical ways forward.

Just as important, UIDP creates the conditions for meaningful connection. Through both structured interactions and informal moments, you will meet the people you did not know you needed to know and the ones who can help turn today’s conversation into tomorrow’s collaboration.

This is where perspective leads to action and connections lead to partnership.

Join France Córdova, President of the Science Philanthropy Alliance and former Director of the National Science Foundation, as she reflects on the evolving role of cross-sector collaboration in advancing science and innovation, including the growing influence of philanthropy in shaping research priorities and funding models. Drawing on leadership across academia, government, and national research initiatives, she will explore how partnerships can adapt to shifting funding landscapes while sustaining long-term impact.

Her perspective will connect directly to the questions practitioners are navigating every day: how to align research priorities, strengthen collaboration across sectors, and position partnerships for meaningful scientific and societal outcomes.

What people are saying about UIDP conferences

Join peers from universities, industry, government, and nonprofits to share practical insight, contribute your perspective, and help shape how university-industry collaboration evolves. Sessions will engage audience members in dynamic discussions, and all conversations operate under Chatham House Rule to encourage candid dialogue.

Seating is limited and all registrations are subject to approval.

UIDP Denver 2026 is organized by UIDP in collaboration with local co-hosts:

Thank you to our UIDP Denver 2026 sponsors:

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Details