Innovation Summit to gather entrepreneurs, technology
The New York State Innovation Summit will showcase cutting edge technologies in Rochester.
Hosted by NYSTAR, Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, and FuzeHub, a statewide nonprofit that helps manufacturers grow and become more competitive, the event takes place Oct. 7-8. The two-day conference will gather innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders to showcase cutting edge technologies and build connections to encourage business growth.
“Supporting New York State’s innovation economy is vital to generating diverse and sustainable economic growth,” said Eric Getler, Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate. “The New York State Innovation Summit will welcome experts in cutting-edge industries from across the state to discuss their research and encourage new collaborations.”

Designed to showcase companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technology and advancements in production capabilities, the New York State Innovation Summit will facilitate discussions about the future of several industries. Attendees will have the opportunity to select one of three technology tracks—disruptive technologies, commercialization, and sustainability and energy—for a deeper focus into specific topics during breakout sessions.
Headlining the summit are two keynote speakers who have built impressive careers rooted in innovation and technology: Kevin Surace, creator of the first smartphone and digital assistant, and Dr. Mukesh Khare, vice president at IBM Research.
Surace is an alumnus of Rochester Institute of Technology and an inductee into its Innovation Hall of Fame. A recognized futurist focused on disruptive innovation, AI and automation, he currently serves as Chairman and CTO of Appvance.ai.
Khare drives IBM’s computing hardware research agenda, leading a team of more than 1,000 researchers worldwide to redefine the future of computing for the next generation.
Beyond the keynotes, the summit will feature speakers and panelists from across New York State. A full list of speakers is available here.
“In addition to its focus on the advanced technologies that are driving our state’s economy, the New York State Innovation Summit will promote the robust network of world-class resources that are available to help manufacturers and technology startups improve productivity and competitiveness,” said FuzeHub Executive Director Elena Garuc. “The summit will expose business leaders to ideas and solutions that can unleash their growth.”
The summit features exhibit space for companies interested in showcasing products, research and innovations in industries such as advanced materials; advanced manufacturing; cleantech and energy innovations; nanotechnology, electronics and photonics; media and gaming technology; digital technology; and life sciences and biotechnology.