The theme of this year’s Materials Day is Mind the Gap: Transiting Technology to Application. The gap between the university lab and commercialization of research is often called the Valley of Death. Materials Day 2019 will look for ways to close the gap. Learn more.

DocFinity’s origin story sounds familiar to those of us who live in the world of tech startups. “We started with one software developer and a dream to make life better for businesses everywhere,” Jim Hopkins, Assistant VP of product development says. From there, their business idea quickly took root and grew. Its main premise –  to help companies move from paper to electronic filing and automatic processing –  has revolutionized its clients. 

Penn State and State College have long topped “Best Of” lists. The university ranks among the top 20 U.S. research schools with over $800 million in annual research expenditures, and is one of only two institutions in the country accorded land grant, sea grant, sun grant and space grant status. Also attractive to the other side of the demographic spectrum, it is lauded by the likes of Forbes, TopRetirement and AARP for its vibrant arts and food scene and energetic community that attracts people who return to the area after a successful career.

That's not quite enough for Matt Rhodes, 1979 Eberly College of Science grad, who relocated back to Allen Street after 25 years on the West Coast.

Nanoporous Antireflection Coatings earned the top prize of $75,000 in 2019 Invent Penn State Venture & IP Fair Tech Tournament, beating out 11 other early-stage startups and inventors whose ideas developed from Penn State research.

What it is: Inc.com nails it simply: an intrapreneur is someone within a company that takes risks in an effort to solve a given problem. In other words, it's an employee that takes on the mindset of an entrepreneur within a company that they do not own.

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