PSCI was proud to sponsor the inaugural iDEa: Our Next Wave in Tech Innovation event, hosted by the Technology Forum of Delaware at Wilmington University’s New Castle campus.
The event brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and technologists driving the future of industries ranging from fintech and cleantech to gene therapy, AR/VR, robotics, and beyond.
Sponsoring iDEa gave us the opportunity to support the local tech community while keeping a close eye on the innovations shaping Delaware’s economy and workforce.
Here’s a look at some of the innovations and ideas that highlighted the event.
Highlights from the Event
The event showcased a range of innovations and insights across sectors:
- Virtual and Extended Reality – Osso VR, represented by Dorian DeShields, explored how virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) can enhance learning and medical training, addressing challenges like low retention rates and improving real-world outcomes.
- Fintech for Financial Equity – Ryan Venderlic from the Center for Accelerating Financial Equity (CAFE) shared how technology partnerships are advancing financial wellness for underserved communities through innovative fintech solutions.
- Next-Gen Healthcare – Hologic’s Courtney Yager highlighted advancements in mammography, including AI-assisted detection and patient-centered design improvements, enhancing both the speed and accuracy of cancer detection.
- DeathTech – ENDevo’s Niki Weiss presented emerging technologies in digital estate planning and digital afterlife management, a growing field as digital assets outpace physical ones.
- Clean Energy – Yushan Yan, PhD, of the Center for Clean Hydrogen at the University of Delaware discussed Delaware’s leadership in polymer ion exchange membranes and the potential of compact electrolyzers to drive renewable hydrogen production, signaling a shift toward clean energy futures.
- Gene Editing & Genomics – Eric Kmiec, PhD, from ChristianaCare’s Gene Editing Institute, showcased how CRISPR and other gene-editing tools are enabling treatments for sickle cell disease and advancing cancer therapies.
- Bluetech & Sustainability – Rob Nicholson of the University of Delaware’s Project ABLE highlighted innovations in sustainable marine technology, workforce training, and partnerships with government and industry that strengthen the regional Blue Economy.
- Practical Robotics – Vik Paranjpe of RobotLAB Delaware Valley demonstrated AI-powered robotics addressing labor shortages in sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and education, including a live demo with the humanoid robot Pepper.
- Digital Transformation – Siemens’ Jeff Everhart explained how digital threads enable organizations to map workflows across manufacturing and operational lifecycles, driving efficiency and innovation.
Keynote Spotlight: Chemours
Chemours, represented by keynote speakers Troy Francisco and Drew Brandt, highlighted how advanced chemicals and materials are enabling innovation in multiple industries.
Their presentation focused on:
- Industrial & Specialty Chemicals – Chemours’ titanium dioxide products and other offerings support high-performance computing, coatings, refrigeration, and semiconductor manufacturing.
- Clean Energy & Advanced Electronics – The company is advancing EV battery efficiency, hydrogen production, energy storage, and renewable energy solutions.
- Data Center Innovation – Chemours’ Opteon product enables next-generation data center cooling through Two Phase Immersion Cooling, lowering energy consumption, reducing footprint, and minimizing water use.
- Supporting Emerging Technology – By providing critical materials for AI, 5G, and semiconductor applications, Chemours plays a pivotal role in enabling the next wave of technological advancement.
PSCI’s Community Commitment
By supporting iDEa, PSCI continues to play a role in connecting with the innovators, ideas, and technologies shaping Delaware’s tech landscape.
Events like this provide insights into the technologies shaping the future workforce and local economy. This information helps us better connect IT professionals with companies driving innovation.
We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Technology Forum of Delaware and events like iDEa in order to stay closely connected with the local tech community.
