Tony Armstrong, president and CEO of the Indiana University Research and Technology Corp., will speak on a panel titled “Higher Ed Partnerships Boost Entrepreneurship” at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, during the two-day Kinetic conference in Indianapolis.

“I am proud to represent IURTC at an event where entrepreneurs connect with government leaders and angel and institutional investors,” Armstrong said. “IU has been one of the nation’s premier research institutions for decades, and now faculty, staff and students are growing its presence in the entrepreneurial world. Representing IURTC at Kinetic is another opportunity to showcase the university’s outstanding work in entrepreneurship.”

IURTC catalyzes entrepreneurial activities at Indiana University and provides support for IU innovation-based startup companies. It advises and connects IU startups to capital and commercialization partners, industry mentors and leadership talent. It also develops appropriate programming and startup space to accelerate company growth.

Kinetic will take place at the Biltwell Event Center, 950 S. White River Parkway West Drive, Indianapolis. The event includes more than 15 panel discussions, networking receptions, one-on-one scheduled meetings with investors and an expo featuring more than 60 companies. The keynote speakers are Sameeksha Desai, director of knowledge creation and research in entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and associate professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Bloomington; and Jim Schellinger, secretary of commerce for the state of Indiana and a member of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Dean’s Council at IU Bloomington.