New York State Innovation Summit to feature top leaders of GlobalFoundries, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Empire State Development, NYSERDA

500-Plus Expected in Saratoga Springs as Capital Region Hosts New York’s Largest and Most Influential Gathering of Statewide Innovation Ecosystem

Registration Now Open at nysinnovationsummit.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The leaders of GlobalFoundries, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Empire State Development, the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and the New York State Energy and Research Authority (NYSERDA) will deliver keynote addresses at the 2023 New York State Innovation Summit, Oct. 16–17 at Saratoga City Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

As the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center for Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), FuzeHub organizes and leads this annual event to convene New York’s innovation ecosystem, sparking new connections and collaborations that foster technology-led economic growth.

Supported by NYSTAR, the New York State Innovation Summit is the premier gathering of companies, entrepreneurs, academic researchers and government officials who contribute to the state’s innovation ecosystem.

This year’s top-billed speakers — all newsmakers and key drivers of innovation — represent the game-changing impact of global semiconductor manufacturing, university-led research and development, and state-driven economic growth initiatives:

• Dr. Thomas Caulfield, president and CEO of GlobalFoundries. Caulfield joined GlobalFoundries in 2014 as senior vice president and general manager of the company’s advanced semiconductor wafer manufacturing facility in Malta, N.Y. As CEO, he leads one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers with operations on three continents and 13,000 employees worldwide.
• Dr. Martin Schmidt, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Schmidt took the helm of the nation’s oldest — and one of the world’s most renowned — technological research universities in July 2022 after serving eight years as the provost of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A seasoned inventor and entrepreneur, Schmidt holds more than 30 issued U.S. patents, and has played a part in starting seven companies.
• Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy and Research Authority (NYSERDA). Harris has held public and private sector leadership roles advancing clean energy projects and engineering companies for more than 20 years, and she now leads NYSERDA at a pivotal moment as the state expands its renewable energy development and transmission.
• Hope Knight, president, CEO and commissioner of Empire State Development. As head of the state’s chief economic development agency, Knight leads initiatives that spur innovation and economic growth, including the newly created Office of Strategic Workforce Development, which focuses on aligning skills training programs with the priorities of today's employers.
• Pravina Raghavan, director of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. Raghavan has more than 20 years of experience supporting businesses through the startup, growth, expansion and maturity phases of development.

 
Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We are pleased to once again to support the New York State Innovation Summit, where the best and brightest who are driving progress in New York gather from across our state. I’m looking forward to once again speaking at this year’s event and meeting the innovators who contribute to New York’s leadership in the global innovation economy.”
 
“This impressive lineup of speakers will deliver inspiration and motivation for New York State’s innovation ecosystem,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “We’re excited for the valued expertise they’ll share and conversations they’ll spark at the 2023 New York State Innovation Summit in the Capital Region. Each year, this event generates opportunities for collaboration, bringing innovative thinkers and doers together around new ideas and emerging technologies with the potential to drive economic growth.” 

“The New York State Innovation Summit is a unique opportunity for thought leaders across wide-ranging industries to share their expertise and build strategic partnerships that will strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “NYSERDA is excited to be a part of this year’s summit and looks forward to the creative solutions that will be brought forward as we work together to bring new, clean technologies to market for the benefit of all New Yorkers.” 

“At GlobalFoundries, we are constantly seeking new opportunities to collaborate regionally and globally to address the growing demand for technology innovation for the betterment of humanity,” said Dr. Thomas Caulfield, GlobalFoundries president and CEO. “The New York State Innovation Summit is a remarkable event that showcases the state's commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement and I am honored to join this distinguished group of leaders to share insights that can shape the future of our industry and build economic opportunity in our state.”

“As an institution dedicated to cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is excited to take on an even bigger role at the New York State Innovation Summit,” said RPI President Martin Schmidt. “This event serves as a catalyst for collaboration, driving the state’s innovation ecosystem forward. It’s a moment for us to explore how together we can change the world — starting right here in New York State.”

“As a member of the MEP National Network, FuzeHub bolsters the New York State’s important manufacturing industry – with services resulting in nearly $2.7 billion in sales and over 22,000 jobs statewide,” said NIST MEP Director Pravina Raghavan. “I am pleased to be part of this year’s New York State Innovation Summit to connect and build partnerships that will help manufacturers in the Empire state and nationwide.”

The multi-day event provides a platform for connection, collaboration and exploration of new and emerging technologies. Attendees engage with influential leaders, participate in breakout sessions and networking opportunities and gain valuable insights into New York's innovation economy.

The Capital Region — home to GlobalFoundries, RPI and state government — was selected to host this year’s Summit, showcasing an area that serves as a hot spot of activity in semiconductors, advanced materials and other tech-driven sectors. The region is expecting to welcome several hundred participants and exhibitors. More than 500 people attended the 2022 Innovation Summit in Buffalo.

“Decades of investment and hard work have put the Capital Region at the forefront of American innovation, especially in the semiconductor industry. We’re excited to bring the New York State Innovation Summit to a region that has emerged as national hub for semiconductors, clean energy, video game development and so much more,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, executive vice president, small business and technology development, at Empire State Development. “This is an opportunity to display the Capital Region and all of New York State as world-class destinations for research, technology and commercialization.”

The summit will also include FuzeHub’s seventh annual Commercialization Competition, funded by Empire State Development, which is open to startups across New York State. Entrepreneurs will pitch in person for up to $150,000 in grant awards from the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund to accelerate the commercialization of their technology or product. 

Attendees and exhibitors can register now for the 2023 New York State Innovation Summit. Various sponsorship opportunities are also available. To register, or for more information, visit nysinnovationsummit.com.