Hannover. Call it the Partner Country Effect: For the first time ever, America is out in force at HANNOVER MESSE’s Research & Technology in Hall 2, where approximately 20 U.S. universities and research institutes are exhibiting at the USA Research & Technology Pavilion, presenting research and spinoff projects and seeking new partnerships.

"American universities lead the way in research, innovation and partnering with industry to bring innovations to market," said Ted Dean, deputy assistant secretary of services at the U.S. Department of Commerce. "HANNOVER MESSE is a prime opportunity to show the world how U.S. research universities create global solutions that revolutionize how ideas become a reality."

"This is the first time we have a USA Pavilion in the Research & Technology sector and it is already one of the largest group exhibits in Hall 2. This is an amazing turnout and underscores the impact of Partner Country participation," added Marc Siemering, senior vice president at HANNOVER MESSE.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is promoting its Smart Infrastructure Laboratory, which uses sensor information to improve the design, monitoring, and operation of civil and mechanical infrastructure and to investigate how humans interact with the built environment, as well as its Structural Systems and Lifecycle Reliability team, whose work advances structural safety, efficiency and durability. Virginia Tech is also emphasizing its partnership with the Technische Universität Darmstadt (TUD), which includes a dual bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering: U.S. students complete their senior year at TUD and German students finish at Virginia Tech, earning degrees from both universities simultaneously.

Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE) , the exclusive IP management and technology transfer organization for Arizona State University (ASU), is showcasing several startups in Hannover. Fluidic Energy, for example, is an ASU spinout company that is partnering with Caterpillar Inc. and Indonesia's state-owned electricity company (PLN) to deliver reliable, renewable power to 1.7 million people in 500 remote villages by using solar panels paired with Fluidic’s metal-air batteries.

The University of California (UC) , the largest recipient of U.S. government research funding, is presenting research on energy and climate and looking for partners from industry to help address global environmental challenges. In addition to promoting the scope of its research and graduate education program, UC is presenting two energy-related startups that emerged from UC research projects.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is highlighting its leadership in advanced manufacturing, energy, and robotics as well as its basic and applied research in manufacturing, trade and logistics. Georgia Tech maintains global innovation portals and partnerships, research and education hubs, and select branch campuses such as Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France. At HANNOVER MESSE Georgia Tech shows how it uses distance learning and other technologies to deliver educational and research products to students, researchers, governments, and businesses around the world.

Tech Parks Arizona , a unit of the University of Arizona, is showcasing Global Advantage , its business-development program for fast-growth international technology companies entering the North American market. In addition to market access, Global Advantage provides assistance with product development, testing and demonstration, business development, and advanced manufacturing. It also connects companies to the University of Arizona and its research parks, which are the largest along the U.S.-Mexico border.