BioNTX has announced the six finalists for its annual Southwest Tech Transfer Showcase, a pitch event slated for Wednesday, September 17, during the 2025 iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit in Dallas.

The showcase is designed to help academic institutions present technologies for licensing, collaboration, or acquisition—connecting researchers with potential investors, industry executives, and strategic partners.

This year is the first time the showcase has expanded beyond Texas, with applications opened to academic institutions across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. BioNTX said the expansion “strengthens cross-state collaboration, elevates the visibility of early-stage life science technologies, and broadens opportunities for investors and innovation to reach commercialization.”

A panel of judges reviewed the applying universities’ featured technology and selected these six finalists to advance to the pitch event at the iC³ Summit:

• The University of Texas at Austin
• Vanderbilt University
• New Mexico State University
• The University of Texas at Dallas
• University of Memphis
• UT Southwestern Medical Center

Shining a light on ‘on the shelf’ technologies

BioNTX said its Tech Transfer Showcase shines a spotlight on breakthrough technologies — many of which are still “on the shelf”—while supporting the development of the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs. 

“This platform gives outstanding visibility into the deep bench of talent we have in our regional ecosystem,” BioNTX CEO Kathleen Otto-Rosenblum said in a statement. “By highlighting early-stage technologies and connecting them to capital, collaborators, and commercial pathways, we’re helping drive the future of innovation across the South-Central U.S.”

Chad Ronholdt, a veteran life science entrepreneur who’s chairman of the BioNTX Tech Transfer Committee, said the showcase is “where innovation meets opportunity.”

“We’re excited to expand this initiative beyond Texas and help surface cutting-edge research with real-world potential,” he added in a statement. “It’s a win for universities, entrepreneurs, and the broader health innovation community.”

Each finalist will work closely with a Tech Transfer judge to refine their pitch, gaining valuable insights into commercial readiness, market fit, business models, and strategic partnerships, BioNTX said. During the live showcase at the iC³ Summit, finalists will present to an audience of biotech leaders, venture capitalists, and innovation stakeholders. The winner will be announced later that day and will receive a cash prize to support the advancement of their technology.

More on the 2025 iC³ Summit

BioNTX, a bioscience and healthcare innovation trade organization serving North Texas, says the upcoming iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit will offer “a glimpse into the future of life sciences and healthcare,” by spotlighting “the transformative convergence of biology, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI)” and exploring how these advancements drive global breakthroughs.

The summit will be held September 16 and 17 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. To register or for info on featured iC³ speakers and sessions, you can go here.

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