Ed. note: This post is part of a series highlighting the upcoming Hannover Messe Trade Show April 25—29, 2016. This series will highlight U.S. exhibitors that will participate in the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology.

Guest blog post by Annette Kleiser, Business Development Consultant for AzTE

This is your first time at Hannover Messe. What factors influenced your decision to participate this year?

With the United States being the Partner Country for 2016, there are lots of great events and opportunities for engagement. Arizona State University is focused on innovating and partnering for solutions to global challenges. The USA Research & Technology Pavilion will attract lots of attention and visibility.

Why is the Research and Technology pavilion a natural home for you?

AzTE is the exclusive IP management and technology transfer organization for Arizona State University, which this year was named the “most innovative school” in the United States by the influential U.S. News & World Report college rankings. HM16 is the single biggest platform for showcasing industrial technology and we look forward to the opportunity to share some of our emerging technologies and startups on this grand stage.

What do you hope to accomplish at Hannover Messe?

Arizona State University’s interdisciplinary approach to research and entrepreneurship delivers truly novel solutions to persistent societal and market challenges. Hannover Messe 2016 is an important global showcase for this work and we’re very excited to be part of the USA Research & Technology Pavilion.

When and how did your organization enter the global marketplace? With what countries or markets are you currently engaged?

We have long recognized the tremendous opportunity in marketing ASU innovations to investors and companies outside our region. AzTE has built global venture connections that include Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), Dublin City University (Ireland), Tsinghua University (China) and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)—Taiwan.

What impact has this had on your organization or region? What advice do you have for other American organizations looking at the global market?

To date, more than 80 companies have launched based on ASU innovations, attracting more than $500 million in funding from venture capital firms and other investors – $76 million just in fiscal year 2015. In the modern global economy, we have to look far beyond our own borders to find the best potential partner to commercialize our technologies.