Innovation as a Teachable Skill: From Creativity to Market Success
Innovation is not magic. It is a skill and a process. In this talk, materials scientist and entrepreneur Ergun Kirlikovali, founder of Integrated Polymer Industries, presents a 10-step framework for moving from ideas to working solutions. He draws on forty years of developing advanced polymer coatings for demanding environments, including theme parks and high‑tech industrial systems. The session is aimed at students who want a practical model for building products, doing research or starting ventures in any field.
🗓️ September 24, 2026
🕟 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 The Gateway First Floor Social Kitchen
What you will learn
A concise 10-step framework for structuring innovation work in projects, labs and startups.
How systematic note taking and clear records improve experiments, design decisions and handoffs.
How to think about value, users and applications from the start, not at the end.
Lessons from building and running a specialized materials company for decades in demanding industries.
Speaker Bio
Ergun Kirlikovali is a chemist, polymer scientist and founder of Integrated Polymer Industries, based in Irvine, California. He has led R&D and product development there since 1985, focusing on advanced polymers and coatings for industrial and aerospace use. He now shares his innovation framework with students and professionals through talks and workshops, including recent sessions titled “Innovation is a Teachable Skill” and “Ten Steps to Innovation” at universities and institutes