Research & Innovation Week

Research & Innovation Week: October 12-16, 2026

The eighth annualÌýResearch & Innovation Week is designed to elevate awareness across campus, build a sense of shared community, create opportunities for collaboration and recognize exceptional leadership and outcomes. Join us as we:Ìý

Ìý

HighlightÌýand shape tomorrow's leaders

Ìý

ShowcaseÌýsome of our most compelling innovations

Ìý

DemonstrateÌýÂé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's positive impact on humanity

2026 Schedule of Events

Thursday—Friday, October 8–9


Sustainability Research Summit

Sustainability Research Summit

ÌýÌý9 a.m.—5 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýUniversity Memorial Center ÌýÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder researchers, staff, students and external partners; registration is required

Join Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's Sustainability Research Initiative for a two‑day event highlighting the diversity and depth of our campus' sustainability research. The summit will bring together researchers from different disciplines and academic departments to share their work, learn together, catalyze new collaborations, and connect with our broader community.Ìý

Sessions will explore:

  • How we build, power, and grow things
  • How we build community and work with partners ethically
  • How we think creatively
  • How we keep people safe
  • How we overcome sociopolitical obstacles

ÌýÌýView Event Details

Monday, October 12


A speaker at the 2026 Native Graduation at Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder

Indigenous Peoples' Day: Moderated Keynote and Luncheon

ÌýÌý11 a.m.–1 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýGlenn Miller Ballroom, University Memorial Center
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, staff, students, and the public

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder students, staff, faculty and members of the Boulder community are invited to participate in a community celebration and observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.

ÌýÌýEvent Details

Tuesday, October 13


Massimo Ruzzene

State of the Research and Innovation Enterprise

ÌýÌý11–11:45 a.m., lunch to follow ÌýÌýÌýSustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) Building, RoomÌýC120 Ìý
ÌýÌýFree and open to the public; registration required

As a Tier 1 public research university, Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder has a thriving ecosystem of research, scholarship and creative work. In this hour-long talk, Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes, will share significant metrics, trends, insights and aspirations from the university’s research and innovation enterprise. He’ll also provide a closer look at some of Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder’s unique offerings and accomplishments from the past year.

Attendees are invited to stay after the event for lunch, from 12–1 p.m.Ìý

ÌýÌýRegister NowÌý


A graduate student presents research to a child at a community event

Graduate Student Dialogue on Public and Community-Engaged Scholarship

ÌýÌý1–3 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýCenter for Teaching and Learning, CASE E390 Ìý
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, staff and students

Join us for presentations by graduate students in roundtable format, dialogue about community-engaged scholarship opportunities, refreshments and good company. Graduate students interested in community-engaged scholarship and whose research, creative work and teaching engages with communities please join us! Interested faculty, staff and undergraduate students are also welcome to attend.

Each session will include:

  • The opportunity to learn about the Community Engaged Research Toolkit and Graduate Student Community-Engaged Scholarship Ecosystem Mapping
  • Roundtable presentations and discussion

Please register by October 5. Scheduled presenters for each session will be posted by Sept. 20.


Biomedical engineering faculty and students in the lab at Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder

Biomedical Engineering Showcase

ÌýÌý2–4 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýEngineering Center Lobby Ìý
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, staff and students

Details to come.

Wednesday, October 14


Ralphie statue at the CASE Building

Bison Restoration

ÌýÌý10 a.m.–12 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýAspen Rooms, University Memorial Center
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, staff and students

Details to come.


Core Facilities Open House

Core Facilities Open House and Front Range Industry and Postdoc Symposium

ÌýÌý10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýSustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) Building, RoomÌýC120 Ìý
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder researchers, students, and external partners

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's Core Facilities are partnering with the Postdoctoral Association of Colorado (PAC) and the Postdoctoral and Early-Career Association of Researchers (PEAR) at NIST for the Core Facilities Open House and Front Range Industry and Postdoc Symposium (FRIPS) joint event. This all-day event is an amazing opportunity for researchers at all levels—as well as local industry—to discover the resources and capabilities available to advance your scientific research and career. Open to all undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, staff, faculty and local industry investigators, we hope you will join us for this significant event.

ÌýÌýEvent DetailsÌý


Biosciences concept

Research to Impact: Funding and Industry Partnership Strategies

ÌýÌý2:30–4:30 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýSustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC) Building, RoomÌýS228 Ìý
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, researchers and staff

Research funding requires a diversified approach. Join Venture Partners at Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder, Industry Research Partnerships, and the Center for Translation Research to explore practical strategies to expand beyond traditional funding sources and position research for greater impact. Faculty and research teams will gain actionable funding insights, while industry participants can discover emerging innovations, explore collaboration opportunities and provide valuable feedback to help researchers communicate the potential of their work.

Thursday, October 15


Williams Village

Research Administrators Breakfast

ÌýÌý9–11 a.m. ÌýÌýÌýWilliams Village
ÌýÌýInvite-only

Sponsored by the Research & Innovation Office and the Office of Contracts and Grants, the Research Administrators' Breakfast is an invite-only event held every year during Research & Innovation Week.Ìý

Friday, October 16


ATLAS Research Open Labs

ÌýATLAS Research Open Labs

ÌýÌý3–5 p.m. ÌýÌýÌýRoser ATLAS Center
ÌýÌýOpen to Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty, staff, students and the public

The 8th annual ATLAS Institute Research Open Labs is your time to get a first-hand view of the radically creative engineering and design projects our lab teams are engaged in. Get to know our lab directors, mingle with researchers and try out advanced technologies across many disciplines.

Interested in the Creative Technology & Design PhD program? This is a great way to get a sense for life in the lab and interact with our community.

ÌýÌýEvent Details

Questions?

Please contact Chris Yankee:ÌýÌýÌýchris.yankee@colorado.edu.Ìý

Research and expertise across CUÌýBoulder.

Ìý Ìý

Our 12Ìýresearch institutes conduct more than half of
the sponsored research at CUÌýBoulder.

More than 75 research centers span the campus,
covering a broad range of topics.

ÌýÌýResearch ComputingÌý

A carefully integrated cyberinfrastructure supports CUÌýBoulder research.

Ìý Ìý