Texas State researchers earn 25 acceptances at TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo

Researchers from Texas State University will showcase a wide range of innovations at the upcoming TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo 2026, with a total of 25 submissions accepted for presentation, making it one of the most diverse and extensive showings by any participating institution.

The conference, taking place March 10-12 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, brings together leading applied researchers, startups and industry scouts to accelerate commercialization of emerging technologies and connect innovators with potential partners and investors.

Participants from TXST include faculty researchers as well as graduate and undergraduate students collaborating with faculty mentors, highlighting the university’s commitment to engaging students in edge research and innovation.

TXST’s accepted submissions include nine technical oral presentations, 10 poster presentations and six innovations selected for pitch presentations—an honor reserved for a select group of innovators whose technologies show strong potential for commercialization.

Two TXST students also received special recognition from conference organizers. Rahul Sheley earned the Student Best Abstract Winner distinction in the technical presentation category for his report titled, “Hybrid Ceramic–Polymer Nanocomposites for Dimensionally Stable SLA Printing.” Denisse Morales received the Best Student Award for a poster presentation for her report titled, “EcoSmart Concrete: An Energy-Efficient and Cost-Effective Solution for Sustainable Construction.”

“Our students are highly excited to showcase their achievements and share the impactful work that earned them the Undergraduate Research Fellowship,” said Sujata Mandal, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Ingram School of Engineering, who collaborated with students on their submissions. “Congratulations to the entire team!”

The strong showing continues the university’s growing presence at the international conference. In 2025, TXST made its institutional debut with 23 accepted submissions, signaling the university’s expanding role in the global innovation ecosystem.

“Texas State researchers are tackling real-world challenges—from clean water technologies to AI-enabled healthcare and safer transportation infrastructure,” said Shreek Mandayam, Ph.D., vice president for research at TXST. “The breadth of innovations showcased at TechConnect reflects the exceptional talent of our faculty and students and demonstrates how research investments at Texas State translate into meaningful solutions that benefit communities and industries alike.”

The accepted projects span multiple disciplines and research areas, including the synthesizing of sustainable construction materials, as well as nanotechnology-based water purification. This wide array of work reflects the university’s growing emphasis on interdisciplinary innovation and technology commercialization.

“In just our second year of participation at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference, Texas State’s recognition as the top university showcasing the highest number of innovations, reflects how the new BobCatalyst Innovation Program launched by the Office of Innovation, Commercialization & Engagement, is already reshaping the future of our innovation ecosystem,” said Yatin Karpe, Ph.D., assistant vice president of Innovation, Commercialization and Engagement at TXST. “By providing targeted innovation-oriented training, proof-of-concept support and commercialization guidance, BobCatalyst is inspiring more faculty and students from across the university to engage with our office, explore the innovation pathway and translate their research into real-world impact.”

A full list of TXST’s accepted submissions can be viewed on the TechConnect conference website.

For more information about TXST’s innovation initiatives, visit TXST’s Research website.