On October 16, 2025, the Division of Energy and Innovation of the University of Houston hosted a special faculty and innovator’s luncheon honoring UH’s boldest thinkers and trailblazers. The event, expected to become an annual occurrence, recognized faculty and staff who are driving innovation through invention disclosures, entrepreneurial ventures, and recognition in the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
The luncheon featured remarks from UH leadership, including Mike Harold, Assistant Vice President for Intellectual Property and Industry Engagement; Ramanan Krishnamoorti, Vice President for Energy and Innovation; Haleh Ardebili, Assistant Vice President for Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystem; and Claudia Neuhauser, Vice President/Vice Chancellor for Research. The keynote address was delivered by Ashok Rao of GOOSE Capital, a serial entrepreneur and the first Indian-American to take a company public on Nasdaq.
In his opening remarks, Krishnamoorti set the tone, emphasizing UH’s commitment to
translating research into real-world solutions. “This is a celebration of innovation
and entrepreneurship at the University, but more importantly the entire journey from
discovery to impact. We want to be intentional about our work here. We must open the
funnel wide, bringing as many ideas and inventions as possible into the process, and
then drive them toward making a real difference in the world. With the Office of Technological
Transfer and Innovation helping guide intellectual property development and industry
engagement, we’re creating a deliberate path that connects UH research excellence
with opportunities to license technologies, launch startups, and, most importantly,
deliver meaningful impact to society.”
Speaking to the core of the university’s mission, Neuhauser reflected on the role
of higher education in advancing innovation. “Innovation is truly at the heart of
a research university such as UH,” she said. “Universities serve as incubators for
new ideas but more importantly for the talented people we have. While the public often
associates innovation with a final product, at a university we think much more broadly.
It encompasses the foundational research and policies we shape when introducing something
new. Much of what we do is basic research that may take years to reach commercialization,
but that’s what universities excel at: asking fundamental questions and discovering
knowledge that can ultimately benefit the economy and improve lives.”
Keynote speaker Ashok Rao shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey, underscoring the importance of an ecosystem that supports bold thinking. He noted that successful innovation requires an environment that rewards risk-taking, access to infrastructure like electricity and capital markets, good legal and accounting systems, and a culture that does not stigmatize failure. Commending UH’s efforts, Rao added, “The basis for true innovation is to create hard tech processes and create successful companies out of it. And that’s why … I am delighted to hear what you’re doing here.”
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates recognizing UH startup innovators, new UH National Academy of Inventor (NAI) senior members, and new UH NAI Fellows. The luncheon also served as a networking platform for UH’s growing community of innovators.
From supporting idea generation to ensuring startup success, UH backs innovators on every stage of the journey. The Faculty and Innovators Luncheon was one more step in UH’s efforts to continue helping founders translate their discoveries into scalable, market-ready solutions.