At Iowa State, innovation isn’t a buzzword. It’s a way of life.

Step onto Iowa State’s campus and you’ll feel it. You’ll experience it. You’ll be surrounded by it. It’s a culture centered on innovation and entrepreneurship. One that places an emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. Why? Because we know that’s how the best ideas are born.

And we even have a name for it: Innovate at Iowa State.

Here, we’ve constructed a state-of-the-art building dedicated to fostering collaboration. We’ve created an academic network designed to connect students to innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities in six of our colleges. Add in a center focused on providing programs and competitions to bring out the entrepreneur in every student – and it’s easy to see that at Iowa State, we’re serious about innovation.

It also has people wondering … what will we think of next?

Interdisciplinary collaboration has an $84 million home.

We call it the Student Innovation Center and it’s 140,000 square feet of pure innovation magic. It’s where you’ll find students from all disciplines working, learning, and being inspired by each other day and night. Featuring makerspaces with the latest technology, the center is open to every major and also offers innovative programming like Flagship Fridays where industry professionals connect with students by sharing personal stories and perspectives. These innovation programs have garnered nearly 18,300 registered student participants.

At the Student Innovation Center, students get hands-on experience in immersive production processes while developing skills that help them bring their ideas to life. From the Culinary Creation Lab test kitchens and the Digital Media Production Studio to the 3D Printing Shop and the Dynamometer (Engine) Testing Room, our one-of-a-kind Student Innovation Center is truly a sight to be seen.

How students start whatever they want.

It’s one thing to say you’re dedicated to helping every student develop an innovative mindset. It’s another thing to build an entire network dedicated to it. That’s where our Start Something network comes in.

With academic opportunities including project-oriented courses, student incubators, product development assistance, internships with startups, and more, this network spans six Iowa State colleges, providing support that encourages student creativity and innovation. And it’s just another way Iowa State students can tailor their education to fit their unique interests – whether they want to begin their own business, market their product, or lead a team of thinkers.

With Start Something, students are able to, well, start anything they want.

Bringing out the inner entrepreneur in our students.

Opened in 1996, our ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship has been preparing Iowa State students with entrepreneurial skillsets for years. This is where students can participate in program after innovative program like our ISU Startup Factory that’s helped jumpstart more than 120 new companies over the past four years. They can also take part in competitions like our College-by-College Pitch Off to hone their presentation skills while getting the opportunity to win funding for their projects.

As a resource for all majors who have an idea they want to explore or create a venture of their own, our Pappajohn Center is where entrepreneurship comes to life.

Giving students hands-on experience to solve real-world problems.

Inviting students to get their hands dirty with real-world challenges is just another way we’re preparing student innovators to change the world. Because we don’t think research is reserved for just professional researchers. In fact, 60 Iowa State undergraduates from 28 different academic programs were chosen in 2021 to share their research as part of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

We’re also helping student innovators become entrepreneurs through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program. The I-Corps site is where Iowa State undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students learn how to explore the commercial potential of their research and technology, thereby increasing the impact it can make.

Whether it’s creating one of the most advanced battery research programs on the planet or developing revolutionary nanovaccines, our researchers and students are facing 21st century challenges head on to create a safer, healthier world. And they couldn’t be more passionate about it.

Innovation deserves to be celebrated.

By now it should be clear that at Iowa State, we are dedicated to student innovation and collaboration. So it only makes sense that we celebrate it. For five days straight every April, our Ignite Innovation Showcase highlights the collaborations, inventions, and opportunities happening on campus.

It also features creative keynote speakers from across the country sharing their stories and processes. From innovators like Louis Carr of BET Networks to entrepreneurs like Tan Le, cofounder of EMOTIV – this event brings together brilliant minds in the form of a public innovation celebration that anyone can attend.

Because we’ve learned when ideas are shared, we all benefit.

Always looking to the future.

Ever since our founding in 1858, Iowa State has been known for leading the way in innovation – and that’s never going to change. With our Innovate at Iowa State culture, we’re doubling down on providing students opportunities to transform into the innovators they want to be. So the world gets the visionaries it needs to propel it toward a brighter future.

As for what we’ll think of next when it comes to innovation, only time will tell.

Innovate at Iowa State.

This content was paid for and created by Iowa State University. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.