The New York State Science and Technology Law Center at Syracuse University College of Law (NYSSTLC) and SU’s Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE) will welcome an audience of 250 members of the Central New York technology and manufacturing community this November at NEXT 2018.
Chris Kelly
A one-day conference held in Syracuse each fall, NEXT features the latest trends in business and technology with a focus on manufacturing excellence, law and commercialization, and innovations in biotech. Among the activities are keynotes from global thought leaders, a technology showcase of cutting-edge research and innovation, and workshops in which attendees gain first-hand experience with state-of-the-art technologies and strategies, learning from experts and one another. NEXT is a part of SU’s Blackstone LaunchPad Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The conference, broken down into three workshop sessions, offers a series of tracks to attendees. NYSSTLC will host NEXT’s Technology & the Law tracks throughout the day. Panel topics include “Innovation and Intellectual Property,” “Legal Issues for Technology Companies,” and “New Venture Innovation and Capitalization Assistance.” NYSSTLC’s tracks feature a variety of experts in technology law, including Jack Rudnick, director of the College of Law’s Innovation Law Center (ILC), and Molly Zimmermann, associate director of NYSSTLC, which is incorporated within ILC.
“Understanding the legal and regulatory landscapes of a new technology is a critical part of the innovation process, necessary to protect intellectual property, seek investment and compete in the marketplace,” says Rudnick. “Attendees at NEXT 2018 will be introduced to these issues by innovation practitioners who have years of real-world commercialization experience. For technology entrepreneurs, this is a must-attend event.”
Rob Shepherd
CASE will host NEXT’s CNY Drone Industry Update, focusing on the latest developments in unmanned aircraft systems and other “drone” technologies, and their impact on the CNY region. Led by Pramod Varshney, director of CASE and Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the panel includes speakers specializing in air traffic, technology and security.
“The Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering is the founding partner of NEXT and was an integral part of the team that landed the UAS test site in CNY. I expect that the emerging UAS ecosystem will attract a number of companies from outside the region and spawn numerous startups,” says Varshney.
Keynote speaker for NEXT 2018 is Chris Kelly, Silicon Valley investor and former chief privacy officer of Facebook. With cybersecurity trending in international news, Kelly’s appearance in Syracuse couldn’t have better timing. His keynote will address the latest challenges and advances in cybersecurity, as well as paint a picture of the future of technology from his unique perspective as an active investor in companies looking to move the mark in media, finance and technology.
NEXT 2018 also will feature Rob Shepherd from Cornell University’s Organic Robotics Lab. Shepherd’s work with 3D prosthetics offers the potential for “soft” robots that can feel, change color, and interact safely with humans.
NEXT is a collaboration of four organizations focused on expanding economic opportunities in Central New York: CASE, NYSSTLC, the Central New York Technology Development Organization and th CNY Biotech Accelerator.
Through generous sponsors and grant funding, the full-day event costs only $25 to attend. For more information and to register, visit next-syr.com.
