UConn Tech Park

Supporting Small Businesses in CT – Manufacturing Leadership Roundtables at UConn Tech Park

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Mfg Roundtable March 2025 AttendeesUConn Tech Park’s collaborations with the State of Connecticut and Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie aim to introduce Tech Park resources to Connecticut’s small manufacturers. “Supporting CT’s small businesses is a key mission for UConn Tech Park,” says Tech Park business development manager Mike DiDonato. “Through outreach like this, we connect with businesses that can leverage Tech Park resources to innovate new products and improve existing ones. We want businesses to know that Tech Park can help them stay competitive. UConn is here to support you.”

That objective was set in motion on March 20 with the kickoff of the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Roundtable series at UConn Tech Park. This ongoing, invitation-only series brings together C-level leaders from manufacturing companies across the state to network, share challenges, and explore how UConn’s research and innovation capabilities can support their growth.

Participating manufacturers represented a range of specialties—from aerospace and electronics to precision engineering and metal fabrication. The roundtable format allows these leaders to see firsthand how UConn can provide support in areas like advanced manufacturing, materials testing, energy management, data science, and more.

Tech Park offers:

  • Advanced manufacturing and automation services such as machining validation, 3D prototyping, and process optimization

  • Materials science support including failure analysis, microscopy, and chemical analysis

  • Energy and sustainability assessments including free energy audits and renewable integration strategies

  • Data science resources from cybersecurity assessments to AI-driven diagnostics

  • Training and consulting tailored to business needs, along with access to engineering senior design teams for small-scale projects

“Many small and mid-sized manufacturers don’t realize how accessible and practical UConn’s resources can be,” says DiDonato. “Whether you’re troubleshooting a process, validating a design, or looking to explore AI or automation, UConn Tech Park can help.”

Interested in participating in a future roundtable?
> If you are the General Manager, President, or CEO of a Connecticut manufacturing company, please reach out to Paul Lavoie. Participation is by invitation only.

Want to learn more about Tech Park support for small businesses?
> View the flyer with detailed resources and services.
> Contact Mike DiDonato, Business Development Manager, UConn Tech Park

UConn Tech Park – Powering Innovation for Connecticut’s Small Businesses.

Exploring the Future of Digital Twins in Manufacturing

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Group of scientistsOn November 12–13, 2024, UConn’s Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering (PW-IASE) brought together researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners for the Workshop on Digital Twins for Manufacturing, held at the Innovation Partnership Building at UConn Tech Park. Hosted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), the event served as a global platform to explore the transformative potential of Digital Twin (DT) technologies in modern manufacturing.

Participants engaged in a dynamic exchange of ideas through keynote presentations, interactive panels, and collaborative working sessions. The workshop’s agenda was designed to address pressing challenges and opportunities in manufacturing, with a focus on the development and application of DTs—virtual models that mirror physical systems to optimize products, processes, and production throughout their lifecycle.

Digital Twin technologies are revolutionizing how manufacturers approach design, production, and maintenance. By enabling real-time data integration and predictive analytics, DTs support informed decision-making and proactive solutions, critical for industries navigating the complexities of modern supply chains and innovation demands. “As the manufacturing sector evolves, DTs provide critical tools for innovation, enabling real-time data integration, predictive analytics, and proactive decision-making,” noted Dr. George Bollas, associate dean of Research for UConn’s College of Engineering and director of PW-IASE.

The workshop tackled key themes, such as improving system efficiency, enhancing resilience, and leveraging DTs for sustainability in manufacturing. Notable speakers and panelists represented a wide array of expertise, from academic research to practical applications in aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. Participants worked toward actionable outcomes, including drafting a strategic roadmap to guide the future development of DT technologies and fostering collaborations across academia, industry, and government.

By hosting this event, UConn reaffirmed its position as a leader in advancing cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. The workshop highlighted Connecticut’s rich industrial heritage, particularly in aerospace, defense, and shipbuilding, while showcasing how innovations like DTs will shape the future of these sectors.

The Workshop on Digital Twins for Manufacturing not only provided a forum for sharing knowledge but also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving technological progress. As digital twins continue to mature, they hold the promise of transforming manufacturing into a more agile, efficient, and sustainable industry.

Fostering Innovation at UConn: The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center

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Physiotherapist adjusting prosthetic leg of patient in hospitalThe Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center at UConn Tech Park is spearheading transformative healthcare solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration. By uniting the expertise of the School of Nursing and the College of Engineering, the center aims to drive the creation and commercialization of evidence-based healthcare technologies.

One of the center’s notable initiatives was showcased during the Spring 2024 Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) course, led by co-Director Dr. Leila Daneshmandi and Professor Sam Nanayakkara. For the first time, the TIE courses included nursing students, emphasizing the center’s mission to integrate diverse fields for innovative outcomes. This collaboration resulted in student venture presentations including Green Grid Farms, Puppy Palace, Transplant Rescue, KLAD, eKardia, and Alevia Pharma OraSpray.

The final pitch day on April 22 highlighted these projects, judged by a panel of faculty, staff, and students professionals, including Engineering Associate Dean Leslie Shor and Nursing Visiting Professor and Nursing & Engineering Innovation Center co-director Tiffany Kelley. Dr. Daneshmandi commended the students for their dedication in building technology-enabled ventures aimed at driving significant change.

The event also featured presentations from young inventors in the K-12 space, courtesy of the Connecticut Invention Convention, and showcased top student ventures like ParticleN, Genesist, and Toribio Labs Zemi Platforms. These presentations underscored the continuous impact of the TIE courses and the broader entrepreneurial initiatives at UConn.

The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center aims to foster healthcare, workforce, and economic development through research, education, community engagement, and technology transfer. By combining clinical nursing knowledge with engineering expertise, the center is poised to create healthcare technologies that address clinical unmet needs and improve healthcare quality. The involvement of registered nurses, the largest group of healthcare professionals, is pivotal in developing and evaluating new technologies.

The Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center, led by Tiffany Kelley and Leila Daneshmandi, exemplifies UConn’s dedication to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. For more information about the center’s initiatives visit the Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center website. To learn more about the TIE courses, visit the Entrepreneurship Hub (eHUB) website.

Congratulations to Our Recent PhD Graduates!

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student presenting researchWe are delighted to celebrate the achievements of those who recently defended their dissertations based on research conducted at one of the Innovation Partnership Building research centers. Best wishes to them in their future professional endeavors.

Yishu Bai

Dissertation title: Steady State Performance Metrics Calculation and Operation Optimization of Complex Production Systems
Advisor: Liang Zhang
IPB Center: Southern New England Industrial Assessment Center
Yishu will join the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UConn as a visiting assistant professor.

Justin Furuness

Dissertation title: Securing BGP ASAP: ASPA and other post-ROV policies
Advisor Amir: Herzberg
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Justin is completing work on other projects for his PhD and will start applying to jobs later this summer.

Rebecca Gentzel

Dissertation title: Haddock: A Language and Platform for MDD-Based Constraint Programming
Advisor Laurent: Michel
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Rebecca will join Carlow University as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science this fall.

Shaoyi Huang

Dissertation title: Towards High Performance Model Inference and Training: From Algorithm to Hardware
Advisors: Caiwen Ding, Omer Khan
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Shaoyi will join the department of Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology as a tenure track assistant professor this fall.

Hasan Iqbal

Dissertation title: High-Dimensional Quantum Key Distribution: New Protocols and Analysis
Advisor: Walter Krawec
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center

Rakesh Joshi

Dissertation title: Optical signal detection and image sensing in turbid medium using Integral Imaging and Deep neural networks
Advisor: Bahram Javidi
IPB Center: Connecticut Advanced Computing Center
Rakesh is joining the University of Houston College of Optometry as a postdoctoral research associate.

Mariam Khanam

Dissertation title: Non-Stationarity in Flood Risk: Quantifying the Impact of River Conveyance Changes and Extremes
Advisors: Emmanouil Anagnostou, Giulia Sofia
IPB Center: Eversource Energy Center
Mariam has joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a postdoctoral research associate in the Environmental Sciences Division’s Water Resource Science and Engineering Group.

Shida Ye

Dissertation title: Applications in Estimation, Tracking and Sensors: A Multi-Method Approach
Advisors: Yaakov Bar-Shalom, Peter Willett
IPB Center: National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology

UConn Secures $10.5 Million AFRL Contract to Propel High-Speed Aerospace Innovations

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Airplane taking off from the airport, front view.

UConn has secured an additional $10.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to support its aerospace manufacturing research, bringing total project funding close to $30 million. This partnership focuses on overcoming manufacturing challenges in aerial systems designed for high speeds and altitudes. Seven faculty members, along with graduate and post-graduate students, will tackle welding-related issues and develop advanced high-temperature materials. These interdisciplinary projects span material science, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and chemistry.

Professor Rainer Hebert, the primary investigator and Director of the Pratt & Whitney Additive Manufacturing Center, emphasized the value of integrating government, industry, and academia in research. UConn’s collaboration with AFRL, which began in 2018, involves major industry partners like Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and Collins Aerospace. This partnership has sharpened UConn’s focus on application-relevant research, distinguishing their work from industry projects constrained by production schedules.

The new grant will fund a four-year research project combining experimental and theoretical approaches to advance materials for RTX, formerly Raytheon. Research will explore the behavior of non-metallic, high-temperature materials and additive manufacturing of refractory metals. Additionally, the project will investigate the design and processing of metamaterials capable of modifying heat and electromagnetic fields for improved thermal management.

This continued collaboration underscores UConn’s role as a valuable partner to AFRL and key industry players, driving advancements in aerospace technology and contributing to Connecticut’s economy. Faculty members who will work on projects covered through the $10.5 million contract include Mark Aindow, Pamir Alpay, Osama Bilal, Lesley Frame, Jeongho Kim, Rainer Hebert, and Steven Suib.

Click here for more information about the AFRL project funding.

UConn Takes Major Step Towards Carbon Neutrality with New Fuel Cell Partnership at the Innovation Partnership Building

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“Utilizing clean and sustainable energy sources to power our campuses … is one of the great challenges of our lifetimes“

Power efficiency concept

The University of Connecticut is set to power its Tech Park exclusively with clean energy through a new partnership with FuelCell Energy. The Innovation Partnership Building (IPB) will soon host four 250-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cells, totaling 1 megawatt of power. This initiative aligns with UConn’s sustainability goals and commitment to carbon neutrality.

UConn President Radenka Maric, a renowned clean energy expert, emphasized the dual benefits of this partnership: “Utilizing clean and sustainable energy sources to power our campuses as we work toward our carbon neutrality goals, while at the same time providing research and learning opportunities for members of our campus community, is one of the great challenges of our lifetimes.”

The fuel cells will generate energy without combustion, providing a cleaner alternative to carbon-based sources. They will power all of Tech Park’s advanced technology laboratories, centers, and institutes. Pamir Alpay, UConn’s Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, stated, “The addition of these fuel cell units will sufficiently power the entire Tech Park, moving us closer to our goal of carbon neutrality without compromising the needs of our partners and centers that call the Tech Park home.”

The project will be completed in two phases by FuelCell Energy. Once integrated into a building microgrid, any unused power will be exported to the Eversource power grid. The units will also operate in a combined heat and power mode, allowing for thermal energy recovery.

FuelCell Energy’s President and CEO, Jason Few, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration: “We are excited to work with UConn to support its Innovation Partnership Building and 2030 carbon-neutral goal.”

UConn has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2030 and net carbon zero by 2040, transforming the university’s infrastructure and research opportunities. The addition of new fuel cells supports these goals and complements UConn’s recently adopted Strategic Plan.

To learn more about the fuel cell upgrade, click here.