UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will convene leaders from academia, industry, government and stakeholder networks for a symposium focused on accelerating agricultural innovation through cross-sector collaboration.
The “Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Symposium,” scheduled for June 12-13 at the University Park campus, will feature expert speakers and panelists from across the innovation pipeline, offering insights to help identify barriers to technology development and uncover opportunities for collaboration that can accelerate the development and adoptions of new technologies across Pennsylvania and the region. With the theme of “Closing the Innovation Gaps Between Discovery and Delivery,” the event is aimed at strengthening the pipeline from research discovery to real-world delivery of scalable, practical solutions.
This event will spotlight the Technologies for Agriculture and Living Systems Initiative (TALiS), which provides a framework and roadmap for advancing innovations that enhance food productivity while conserving vital ecosystems. By positioning Pennsylvania as a living laboratory, TALiS supports the full pipeline from research to real-world application, delivering scalable solutions that strengthen food systems, natural resources and community resilience.
The college is committed to bridging the gap between discovery and application, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Blair Siegfried noted, emphasizing the college’s history of bringing together diverse audiences — such as industry stakeholders, producer and conservation networks, academia and government — to align expertise and resources in tackling complex issues, in the best traditions of the land-grant mission.
The first day of the symposium will focus on broad, cross-sector perspectives, featuring sessions on the culture of technology adoption and human-technology interactions. Afternoon panels will be framed using Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s economic development pillars — robotics, manufacturing, energy and life sciences — and their intersections with agriculture.
The second day will focus on a more detailed examination of the innovation pipeline, featuring sessions on early-stage research, research translation and scaling, followed by breakout discussions that map contributions across key technology areas, including robotics, decision support and biotechnology.
“At Penn State, we are very good at researching early-stage technology discoveries and applications, then sharing our results within the scientific community and with the public,” said Paul Heinemann, director of TALiS and professor of agricultural and biological engineering. “However, it is crucial to engage with partners who will help bring these discoveries to commercialization, benefiting those who work and live in the agricultural and life sciences sectors.”
There is no charge to attend the symposium, but registration is required. The deadline is May 31. To view the symposium agenda and register, visit the TALiS website.