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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s faculty and research centers shined bright at the 2024 SIU Technology and Innovation Expo (TIE), held Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The event featured presentations with cutting-edge research and innovation across the SIU System, with notable contributions from SIUE emphasizing leadership in biotechnology and data science advancement.

The annual Expo, organized by the SIU System Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations, brought together students, faculty, policymakers and business leaders for an afternoon of networking and exploration. Featuring technology presentations, interactive exhibits, and a keynote presentation, the event highlighted the collaborative spirit driving innovation across the system. SIU System President Dan Mahony underscored the significance of the event in fostering partnerships.

“This year, the SIU System Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations team has worked with our researchers and centers in Carbondale, Edwardsville and Springfield to organize this event focusing on biotechnology and how the SIU campuses are making future ideas a reality today,” said Mahony. “Our broad range of presentations at TIE demonstrate how our centers are on the cutting edge of new breakthroughs and working with our industry partners to produce meaningful impacts.”

SIUE’s contributions to TIE stood out, with the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) and the Center for Predictive Analytics (C-PAN) playing prominent roles. Both centers provided insight into their groundbreaking work and its implications for industries nationwide.

NCERC, a nationally recognized research hub, showcased advancements in biofuels and renewable energy production.

Yahhong Zhang, PhD, interim executive director for NCERC, said her team enjoyed attending TIE.

"NCERC has become a leader in the U.S. in converting waste to ethanol which is a feedstock to make sustainable aviation fuel, and currently we are at a critical step to scale up to a demonstration size in order to reach commercialization," said Zhang. "We hope the events like the TIE can gather experts from the SIU system, from administration, technical, and business development to nurture a new ecosystem in southern Illinois to attract industry, jobs and students."

C-PAN demonstrated its expertise in leveraging data to address complex problems. Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD, director of C-PAN, delivered a presentation highlighting the center’s innovative work.

“The St. Louis region is an epicenter for both biotechnology and data science innovation, and so a major area that we are invested in as a research center is how we can leverage both of these research areas simultaneously to solve real-world problems,” said Butts-Wilmsmeyer. “During the TIE Expo, we were honored to present some of our research on MEG Models, which are machine learning models that look at metabolomics, environmental data and genomic data comprehensively.”

The Expo featured a keynote address by Kelli Herrlinger, global technical business development manager for Kemin Industries. The business specializes in ingredient agriculture, food technologies, nutraceuticals, pet food, aquaculture and textiles.

SIUE faculty also participated in panel discussions and technology presentations, showcasing projects ranging from sustainable energy solutions to advancements in artificial intelligence. These presentations demonstrated how SIUE’s researchers are preparing for the future while delivering solutions to immediate challenges in real-world applications.

TIE’s emphasis on strategic partnerships resonated with attendees and participants alike. Butts-Wilmsmeyer accentuated the significance of the annual exposition as a platform for collaboration within Illinois higher education network.

“The TIE Expo is a chance each year for faculty and staff across the SIU System to celebrate innovations that have direct impacts on the communities we serve,” Butts-Wilmsmeyer continued. “We are honored to have been selected to share some of our work at the intersection of biotechnology and data science at the TIE Expo this year, and we are excited to continue working toward advancements in this area that have a positive impact on the people we serve.”

For more information about the SIU Technology and Innovation Expo, including future events and initiatives, visit tie.siu.edu.

PHOTOS: SIU Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, Yan Zhang, PhD, Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer, PhD