Tech Innovation Day

Build real solutions for real-world problems. Make a real impact. Win real prizes.

Collaborate across disciplines, apply technology responsibly, and showcase your work.

  • Open to all majors and experience levels
  • Mentorship, workshops, and structured support
  • Public showcase on April 30, 2026

Register for Tech Innovation Day

What is Tech Innovation Day?

Tech Innovation Day brings students together to identify real problems, develop technology-enabled solutions, and present their work. Select projects will receive prizes and resources to further advance their projects.

Participants may bring:

  • An existing project
  • A clearly identified problem
  • Or an interest in joining a team

The event culminates in a public showcase on April 30, 2026.

Why Participate?

Tech Innovation Day is designed to produce meaningful outcomes for students.

Participants will:

  • Build portfolio-quality work for résumés and job interviews
  • Strengthen candidacy for internships and employment
  • Develop experience working across disciplines
  • Apply technology to real-world challenges
  • Present work to faculty, leadership, and external guests

This is not a simulation. It is an opportunity to build and demonstrate tangible work.

How It Works

1. Register

Submit a short, low-friction registration indicating:

  • Whether you have an existing project
  • Have identified a problem
  • Or are looking to join a team

No full proposal required at this stage.

2. Define & Develop

Participants expand their problem and project definition with structured guidance, workshops, and mentor pairing.

Focus areas include:

  • Problem clarity
  • Stakeholders
  • Feasibility
  • Responsible and ethical design
  • Business and implementation considerations

3. Project Readiness Review

Teams participate in a formal review to assess:

  • Clarity of the problem
  • Evidence of progress
  • Technical and practical feasibility
  • Readiness for public presentation

Projects meeting established standards advance to the showcase.

4. Showcase – April 30, 2026

Selected teams present their work publicly. Presentations highlight:

  • The problem addressed
  • The technology-enabled solution
  • Demonstrated progress
  • Next steps

Select teams receive prizes and may be invited to pursue further development opportunities.

Who Should Apply?

Tech Innovation Day is open to:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students at William Paterson University
  • Students with early ideas
  • Students with ongoing projects
  • Interdisciplinary teams. Collaboration with Business and Computer Science students strongly encouraged.

If you care about a real problem and want to build a solution, you belong here.

Prizes & Advancement

Top teams will receive:

  • Monetary awards
  • Structured support for continued development
  • Potential pathways toward internships or applied projects

Details will be announced during the program.

Timeline

  • February 12 – Registration Opens
  • February–March – Development Period
  • Early April – Project Readiness Review
  • Mid-April – Showcase Preparation Workshop
  • April 30 – Tech Innovation Day Showcase

Part of Innovation for Impact

Tech Innovation Day is part of Innovation for Impact, an initiative led by the Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CSREI) at the Cotsakos College of Business.

Innovation for Impact promotes responsible, applied innovation grounded in the center's mission to align the positive impact on people, planet and prosperity.

Innovation is the tool. Impact is the goal.

Ready to Get Started?

  • Bring a real problem.
  • Build a technology-enabled solution.
  • Show what you’ve created.

Register for Tech Innovation Day