Thought Leadership

A Dynamic Meeting of Minds

The Rowen Foundation’s Convergence Summit is an annual gathering of visionaries, held during the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s InnovATL series — two-plus weeks of high-impact events for entrepreneurs, creators and tech pioneers. This summit serves as a platform where thought leaders from medicine, agriculture and environmental sciences convene to explore breakthrough solutions to pressing global issues, including:

• Sustainable food production
• Clean energy generation
• Advancements in healthcare

The 2024 Convergence Summit featured distinguished voices from the agtech and medtech sectors, presenting cutting-edge research and transformative ideas. Each year, the summit creates a space for forward-thinking discussion and collaboration, connecting innovators who share Rowen’s vision for a sustainable future. This unique gathering encourages cross-industry partnerships, sparking innovation that has the potential to shape the world.

Diverse, Transformative Perspectives

Underpinning Rowen’s thought leadership strategy is a robust community of more than 50 regional universities and 50 research institutions. This rich academic ecosystem fosters collaboration across disciplines, creating a dynamic environment for groundbreaking research and innovation. From agricultural sciences to health innovation, and many more, these institutions provide a fertile ground for transformative ideas.

The University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences is a leader in plant and animal sciences, food safety and environmental resource management — with $43.8 million in external funding. Georgia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Research Program advances agriculture and food processing through robotics, automation and cutting-edge imaging technologies, bringing innovations to market. Additionally, in 2023, Georgia Tech Reserch Institute (GTRI) was awarded a record $941 million in government and industry research sponsorships in 2023 — leading to innovations in e-mobility, AI digital inspections and more.

Meanwhile, Emory University and Georgia Tech collaborate to redefine healthcare, expanding expertise from treating disease to promoting holistic wellness and patient care. Spelman College has been the No.1 HBCU in the nation for 17+ years, with 90 percent of faculty members having a doctoral degree or the equivalent.

Helping to attract some of the brightest minds to the state is the Georgia Research Alliance’s Eminent Scholars, which continually grows Georgia’s research funding, lab work and investments in startups. And with UGA’s recent approval to open a new School of Medicine, opportunities for biomedical research and innovation continue to expand, reinforcing Rowen’s position as a hub for intellectual growth and technological advancement.