New BobCatalyst program paves the way for Texas State innovators

By Saige Klein

Blog Content Contributor

The new Texas State University program, BobCatalyst, offers extensive research and innovative programs to students and faculty on campus.

Matt Sorenson, director of innovation development, said he hopes to encourage bold research ideas by helping them navigate from lab to market-worthy products.

“BobCatalyst is a university-wide initiative designed to help Texas State Bobcats,” said Sorenson. “So, faculty, staff, and students transform their impact on research ideas into market-ready innovations.”

Through accelerator programs and innovation grants, the program provides resources and services to help cultivate research projects and support aspiring innovators.

“We just had a record year in terms of research, and with research comes new discoveries,” said Sorenson. “But we need more resources to take those discoveries to be market-ready.”

Last year, Texas State reported record research levels with over $183 million in research across the university. With increased research activity comes a growing need for programs like Bobcatalyst to ensure pathways to success.

Sorenson said the university has already seen a 147% increase in patent applications over the past year.

“That’s why we created these programs to help our innovators patent and further validate their technologies and potential businesses,” said Sorenson.

Bobcat Catalyst aims to provide Bobcats with the support needed to turn creative ideas into researched, functional products.

For more information, visit https://www.marc.txst.edu/initiatives/bobcatalyst.html