Texas Tech delivers Innovation Workshop to equip UNA with commercialization tools and strategy.
For the second time, the Texas Tech University Innovation Hub stepped onto the international stage this July, delivering another high-impact Innovation Workshop to university leaders in San José, Costa Rica.
Hosted by the National University of Costa Rica (UNA), the four-day workshop was designed to turn research into real-world impact. With expert guidance from the Hub’s team, participants worked in teams to explore customer discovery, market strategy, and business modeling; key elements of building a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Texas Tech Costa Rica supported the Innovation Hub’s efforts with UNA by sponsoring coffee breaks and snacks.
The week kicked off with a dedicated session for university administrators, focused on understanding the Innovation Ecosystem at Texas Tech University. The goal was to explore how to create effective pathways that guide researchers through the commercialization process. This session was led by Taysha Williams, Managing Director of the Innovation Hub, and Dr. Werner Kuhr, Associate Vice President of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Following the administrator session, the remainder of the week was facilitated by Taysha Williams and Lena Zappia, Director of Commercialization Programs. Twenty faculty members participated in an immersive experience designed to equip them with practical tools and strategies to translate research into real-world impact.
“Innovation knows no borders. By empowering universities in Costa Rica with the tools and mindset of innovation, Texas Tech Costa Rica—through the support of the Innovation Hub—is not just teaching skills, it’s cultivating a generation of global problem-solvers," shares Taysha Williams. "Together, we are building a bridge between knowledge and commercialization that positions Costa Rica to foster innovation-driven growth.”
Hands-On. Team-Based. Built for Impact.
The Innovation Workshop allowed participants to be immersed into the commercialization process. Industry leaders provided real-world problem sets that they wanted to see solved with innovation. The faculty were put into teams and challenged to identify the right customer segments, and guided through the process of creating value-driven solutions.
Using the Business Model Canvas as a roadmap, participants built out commercialization strategies in real time, developing the same tools and mindsets used by startup founders and academic innovators at Texas Tech.
Each team conducted a live interview with a local stakeholder connected industry that aligned with their problem set, offering valuable insights, and grounding their ideas in actual market feedback.
A Global Model, Built in West Texas
Drawing on years of experience delivering innovation and commercialization training to Texas Tech faculty, students, and staff, the Hub adapted familiar tools into a brand-new format designed specifically for the Costa Rican academic audience. It blended proven teaching strategies with cultural context, offering a flexible model that can be tailored to meet the needs of university ecosystems around the world.
This isn’t Texas Tech’s first trip to Costa Rica. In 2024, the Innovation Hub introduced customer discovery principles to five Costa Rican universities, including Texas Tech Costa Rica. This year, the return visit marked a deeper level of engagement, showcasing the full potential of Texas Tech’s commercialization toolkit.
What’s Next?
This international engagement is just one step in Texas Tech’s growing global innovation footprint. The Innovation Hub continues to share its expertise, build cross-border partnerships, and support institutions working to bring bold ideas to life.
More workshops are in the works and the message is clear: Texas Tech doesn’t just teach innovation. It builds ecosystems that make it real.