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Yinong Yang, professor of plant pathology, is the 2019 recipient of the Research Innovators Award, given by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to recognize faculty and staff who have commercialized intellectual property generated by their Penn State research.

GreenBriq is turning invasive plants into sustainable fuel for Kenyan households. Inakua, the second-place winner of $2,500, plans to rent water-efficient hydroponic growing towers to Kenyan families to reliably grow their own vegetables.

Four finalist teams in the Ag Springboard student pitch competition are pitching ventures to help solve food waste, cut fossil fuel emissions, combat invasive plant species and provide low-cost, water-wise food production. One will win the $7,500 grand prize to Make It Happen.

Tyler Smith, who played on Penn State's 2001 men's basketball team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round in the NCAA tournament, will speak about mental fitness for entrepreneurs as the keynote speaker for Ag Springboard. The "final four" Ag Springboard teams pitch live before judges in the finalist round Wednesday, followed by an evening awards banquet.

An extract from the seeds of avocados exhibited anti-inflammatory properties in a laboratory study, according to Penn State researchers, and it represents a potential source for novel anti-inflammatory compounds that could be developed as a functional food ingredient or pharmaceuticals.

Agribusiness Senior Tony Rice, named a Farm Foundation Cultivator, presented his study of lab-grown meat to industry leaders at a roundtable forum

Ag Springboard — a GREAT opportunity for students to learn how to pitch ideas and compete to win $7,500!!!

Do you know an innovative researcher who is commercializing technologies generated through Penn State research? Nominations sought for the 2019 Research Innovator Award.

Ag Springboard experience helps students stand apart from the crowd. Win $7,500 to make your big dream happen.

Owner of Eichenlaub, Inc., teaches students how he weighs new technology.

Boubou Sangho and Gladys Freeman, recipients of the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, spent six weeks of professional development at Penn State's University Park campus in August and September. They worked with the college's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, and took several courses related to their interests, such as entrepreneurship and agribusiness.

Recent PSU grad Callie Rojewski — who started her first business as a student — tells her story at an Ag Springboard Open House Oct. 22, 5-6:30, 6 Armsby.

Treating judges to samples of pasta made with cricket powder helped Weslie Khoo and Haoshu Zhang’s team win the $7,500 grand prize at the Ag Springboard student business pitch contest in 2017.

Meet young entrepreneurs and get career prep advice at the fall 2018 Ag Springboard open houses. Join us Sept. 18, Oct. 22 and Nov. 13!

"E & I provides a different perspective and skill set to supplement your education in more technical subjects so you are more equipped to solve real-world problems,” said Hunter Swisher, CEO and Founder of Phospholutions, 2016 Plant Sciences graduate, and Ag Springboard finalist in 2016.

Dr. Maria Spencer has joined the Entrepreneurship & Innovation team in the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences as the first John and Patty Warehime Entrepreneur in Residence. She will help the college's researchers commercialize discoveries to reach the full potential of their work.

Leaders of ConidioTec and Phospholutions, two ag sciences startups, will tell their stories next month at a series of interactive, TED-talk-style City Lights events to showcase Invent Penn State. The annual series will visit Harrisburg; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from June 18-21.

Phospholutions won $80,000 in investment prizes and ConidioTec won $10,000 at this spring's Invent Penn State Venture & Intellectual Property Conference. Both startup companies are commercializing discoveries and technology developed at the College of Agricultural Sciences.

P.S. Snacks Founder and CEO Nikki Azzara told the story of creating her company that makes good-for-you snacks from unconventional ingredients, starting with a line of bean-based cookie doughs. She spoke Thursday, March 29, to about 80 students as part of Penn State Startup Week.

A group of Penn State students in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor traveled to Israel over spring break to explore the entrepreneurial spirit of the country, meet with policymakers, and get a taste of the culture in the Middle Eastern country.