2025 Kentucky Innovator Challenge to focus on health care, engineering, agriculture
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2025) — UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky is set to host the third annual Kentucky Innovator Challenge (KIC). 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 15 in Ballrooms 212 A&B in the Gatton Student Center.
The one-day summit will bring together leaders from business, service organizations and higher education to identify the most pressing challenges facing Kentucky that are best solved through collaborative research and innovation economic development.
“I am thrilled about another amazing lineup and turnout for the third consecutive year of our flagship Innovation Connect event,” said Landon Borders, senior associate director for innovation economic development and industry partnerships for UK Innovate and executive director of Innovation Connect.
“The Kentucky Innovator Challenge is designed to inspire our innovators, researchers, small businesses and startup communities to solve the most pressing challenges affecting our state, through the lens of our business and community partners, and with intentionality towards building collaborative partnerships,” said Borders.
KIC 2025 is free and open to anyone interested in attending. Registration is online and the full agenda for the event can be found here.
There are three unique tracks attendees can participate in throughout the day: Innovations in Health care for the Commonwealth, Engineering a Better Kentucky and Agricultural Innovations for Kentucky.
Keynote speakers this year include:
- President Eli Capilouto
- Ilhem Messaoudi, Ph.D., acting vice president for research
- Ian McClure, J.D., vice president for innovation, UK HealthCare, and associate vice president for research, innovation and economic impact, UK Research
- Jonathan Shell, commissioner, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
“The University has made clear that the future of Kentucky’s health is a priority, and we must be innovative in our approach to provide the best patient care possible,” said McClure. “With the announcement of UK HealthCare Innovation in September 2024, we are actively developing a strategy to partner with stakeholders and accelerate innovation for advanced healthcare. KIC is an optimal opportunity for this kind of partnering, and we look forward to sharing, learning and connecting with those that we hope will work with us on this innovation challenge.”
The healthcare-focused portion of the event includes the following speakers:
- Scottie B. Day, M.D., physician-in-chief, Kentucky Children’s Hospital
- Keith Arvin, quality director, Catalent Pharma Solutions
- Kristen Gullo, senior vice president, US WorldMeds
Jenny Ligon, ecosystem liaison at Advanced Technology International, will present funding opportunities for this track.
In addition to keynote addresses and networking opportunities, attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with a healthcare innovation panel that includes:
- Kip Guy, Ph.D., dean and professor, College of Pharmacy
- Linda Dwoskin, Ph.D., senior associate vice president for research and Endowed Professor of Pharmaceutical Education, College of Pharmacy
- Tariq Chaudry, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, College of Medicine, and vice chair for quality, safety and value
- Meghan Marsac, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics, College of Medicine, and acting division chief of Kentucky Children’s Hospital
- Kevin Hatton, M.D., Ph.D., professor of anesthesiology, College of Medicine, and chief medical officer, Albert B. Chandler Hospital
The engineering-focused portion of the event includes the following speakers:
- Chuck Collins, director of university research and engagement, Fidelity Investments
- Robert Bockrath, deputy vice president and director of SOF GLSS, Lockheed Martin
- Sam DuPlessis, senior director of product technology, GE Appliances
- Rick Suel, director of product engineering, FirstBuild
Terry Samuel, president of the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation (KSTC), will present supporting resources for this track.
The agriculture-focused portion of the event includes the following speakers:
- Jason Weller, global chief sustainability officer, JBS Foods
- Shaylyn Gammon, whiskey director, Molson Coors
- Lorie Hailey, director of communications, Alltech
- Vaughn Holder, Ph.D., global beef research director, Alltech
Landon Borders, director of the Estate Whiskey Alliance, will present funding opportunities for this track.
Find more information about the 2025 Kentucky Innovator Challenge online here. Lunch will be provided and a reception will follow the event.
About UK Innovate
UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky drives economic, societal and entrepreneurial growth from research discoveries. Through technology commercialization, healthcare innovations, corporate partnerships, social innovation and economic development, UK Innovate helps researchers and employees across UK Research and UK HealthCare accelerate their ideas into use. By connecting talent, research, corporate partners and community resources, UK Innovate works to move ideas into the world faster, where they can make the greatest societal and economic impact possible. Learn more: www.research.uky.edu/ukinnovate.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.