FORT WORTH, Texas (April 24, 2026) – In a first-of-its-kind event on the campus of Texas Christian University (TCU), innovators representing more than 100 public and private institutions and organizations across the state convened this week for the Texas Innovation Conference & Awards. The gathering of innovators, researchers, founders, investors and industry leaders focused on moving research into real-world results while strengthening collaboration and commercialization across Texas.

“TCU prides itself on being among the most innovative universities in the nation, so we were pleased to welcome leaders across research, industry and entrepreneurship to our campus to drive innovation and economic growth in Texas,” TCU Chancellor Daniel W. Pullin said. “This conference reflects the intentional work underway to advance collaboration and connect efforts in ways that strengthen outcomes for students, partners and communities across our state.”

Attendees heard from founders, chief executives and technology leaders across innovation businesses, including Stephen Gillett, chairman and CEO of Verily; Shireen Abdullah, founder of Yumlish; and Sundeep Mattamana, executive director for technology development and transfer at the University of Texas Medical Branch, among dozens of others. A luncheon keynote address was delivered by Terry Zrubek, deputy executive director for economic development and tourism for the Office of the Governor of Texas.

The Texas Innovation Awards honor the work of innovators and high-growth startups making measurable contributions across the state. Award winners included leading faculty, staff and students from across Texas’ R1 and R2 universities, as well as startups that have secured investment in areas such as health, energy, defense and emerging sectors. View the full list of award winners here. 

Several recipients were highlighted during the program for work already gaining traction in the market, underscoring the strength of innovation coming out of both universities and the startup community.

“Texas has all the ingredients to lead globally in innovation, including world-class research, high-growth companies and strong industry — but those pieces don’t always connect,” Tom Wavering, chief university strategy and innovation officer at TCU, said. “This conference is about celebrating these leaders, bringing them together and turning that potential into real outcomes that move Texas forward.”

In addition to keynote conversations, the conference included small-group activation labs where participants worked through investor readiness, commercialization decisions and partnership opportunities. Those sessions were designed to move beyond discussion and into next steps.

Attendees also visited key innovation hubs across Fort Worth, including the city’s Medical Innovation District and Alliance corridor, offering a closer look at the region’s growing role in research, advanced manufacturing and technology.

The conference reflects a shared effort to expand research, strengthen partnerships and connect innovation to industry and community impact, with TCU serving as the convening point for continued collaboration and future programming.

Click here for additional coverage and highlights from the Texas Innovation Conference.

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TCU Media Contact:
Holly Ellman
Associate Director of Communication
817-257-NEWS (6397)
h.ellman@tcu.edu

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