Chief Innovation Officer Summit brings innovation leaders to SMU

Innovation leaders, technology executives and entrepreneurs will gather at SMU this December to explore how organizations can lead through rapid technological change. Innovation today extends far beyond research and development. Organizations across every industry are rethinking how they adopt emerging technologies, build resilient teams and create sustainable competitive advantages in an era defined by artificial intelligence, digital transformation and exponential disruption.

To help navigate that landscape, the SMU Lyle School of Engineering and the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership will host the Chief Innovation Officer (CInO) Summit on Friday, Dec. 11, 2026.

Designed as a curated gathering for senior leaders across industries, the one-day summit will bring together innovation executives, technology leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers for practical discussions, collaborative workshops and opportunities to build connections across industries.

A forum for today's innovation leaders

The CInO Summit is designed to move beyond traditional conference presentations, creating space for leaders to exchange ideas, examine shared challenges and explore how emerging technologies are reshaping innovation strategy.

Through interactive panels, executive boardroom conversations and hands-on workshops, attendees will explore topics ranging from innovation leadership and strategy to the convergence of artificial intelligence, quantum technology and digital twins. The program also creates opportunities to connect with peers and experience SMU Lyle research and emerging technologies firsthand.

The summit brings together leaders working across technology, engineering, research and development, product strategy, data and analytics, digital transformation and entrepreneurship. Whether guiding innovation within a global organization or building a growing company, participants will have opportunities to exchange strategies, explore potential partnerships and learn from leaders confronting similar challenges across industries.

Experience innovation at SMU

Hosted on the SMU campus, the summit also highlights the University’s role in bringing academia and industry together around the technologies and leadership challenges shaping the future.

The event reflects SMU Lyle’s commitment to industry collaboration, creating opportunities to connect engineering expertise and emerging technologies with the leaders working to turn new ideas into real-world impact.

“Today’s pace of change demands more than innovation alone. It demands innovation leadership and ecosystem orchestration. The ability to translate emerging opportunities into strategic action is now a defining capability for institutions that want to remain relevant and create lasting impact,” said Dinesh Rajan, Cecil and Ida Green Chair in Engineering and associate dean for faculty affairs and curriculum innovation at SMU Lyle. “This summit is designed to help executives build those capabilities while creating new opportunities for collaboration.”

Register for the CInO Summit

Registration is now open for the Chief Innovation Officer Summit. For questions about the summit, partnership opportunities or alumni and advisory board registration discounts, contact Lea Worth, program development and events manager for the Hart Center of Engineering Leadership at lworth@smu.edu.

Learn more about the agenda, speakers and partnership opportunities or register for the Chief Innovation Officer Summit.

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked teaching and research university in the dynamic city of Dallas, and a member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.