A one-week immersive program bringing over 50 international graduate students to George Mason University to collaborate with industry leaders and solve real-world business challenges.
In May 2026, the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) at George Mason University welcomed graduate students from the Steinbeis International Management Program for an intensive, hands-on experience designed to bridge academic learning with real-world application. Part of the IDIA Digital Innovation Challenge Lab, IDIA created a dynamic environment where global talent, industry expertise, and academic research intersect.
Throughout the week, hosted at the Mason Innovation Exchange (The MIX), students worked in teams to tackle a business challenge presented by Cadence Design Systems, IDIA’s industry partner, engaging directly with professionals and faculty to develop practical, innovative solutions. The program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and the ability to translate complex ideas into actionable strategies—skills that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
By bringing together diverse perspectives and disciplines, the Digital Innovation Lab program reflects IDIA’s mission to connect academia, industry, and global partners in impactful ways. It offers academic partners not only the opportunity to leverage their knowledge, but also to gain firsthand experience navigating real-world challenges alongside leaders shaping the future of innovation.
From Challenge to Solution: Translating Innovation into Real-World Impact
The Digital Innovation Lab reflects the IDIA’s role as a translational research hub—bridging academia, industry, and global talent to move ideas into real-world impact. Over the course of one week, graduate students collaborated in teams to address a business challenge related to microelectronics supply chain security and verification brought by our industry partner, applying interdisciplinary thinking to develop actionable solutions. Through direct engagement with industry professionals and George Mason faculty, participants gain experience navigating complex, real-world problems while strengthening their ability to translate research and ideas into practical outcomes.
As a result of this work, student teams developed six distinct, real-world solutions, each offering a unique approach to addressing the challenge:
- End-to-End Supply Chain Transparency
A digital thread–enabled platform that improves supply chain visibility enabling real-time tracking, reduced compliance risk, and stronger trust across global ecosystems. - Securing Critical Infrastructure Systems
A semiconductor assurance platform that identifies and replaces untrusted chips in power grid infrastructure using digital twin modeling and traceability. - Verifiable Semiconductor Trust Layer
A software-based platform, Semiconductor TrustGraph, transforming chip lifecycle data into a measurable trust score, helping detect counterfeit components and ensure system reliability. - Geopolitical Supply Chain Intelligence
A platform combining digital thread, digital twin, and artificial intelligence analytics to predict global economic policies (including import tariff) impact, identify sourcing risks, and support faster decision-making. - Chip-Level Identity & Traceability (SiliconDNA)
A secure chip identity solution that enables lifecycle tracking, targeted recalls, and real-time verification through physically unclonable signatures. - Platform-Based Semiconductor Assurance
A collaborative platform that strengthens supply chain security through certified data exchange, real-time risk monitoring, and trusted cross-sector coordination.
Industry Insight: Bridging Research and Application
As part of the program, Jeremy Muldavin, Director Sales of Development at Cadence, engaged directly with students, providing insight into real-world challenges and expectations.
It is important for Cadence to build out a whole ecosystem of trust and assurance and fund those efforts. George Mason is one of those universities that is building and looking at assurance methodologies and verification, formal methods, and then strategies that could potentially counter risks for national security and civilian infrastructure.
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Jeremy Muldavin
His perspective highlighted the importance of building an ecosystem of trust, assurance, and collaboration—areas where George Mason continues to play a leading role through its research centers and partnerships. Cybersecurity & Information Assurance (concentrating on defending critical systems and networks through specialized research in hardware security, configuration analytics, secure communications, and national security policy) is one of the five main core technologies related to digital innovation where Mason has recognized capacity and expertise.
The value added by IDIA
The IDIA Digital Innovation Challenge Lab with Steinbeis matters because it creates exactly the kind of ecosystem that businesses and George Mason’s stakeholders need—one where ideas move fluidly between research and real‑world application. This partnership brings together global industry, faculty expertise, and the international management talent of the Steinbeis program to work side‑by‑side on practical solutions to complex challenges. It accelerates innovation from lab to market, strengthens the talent pipeline, and builds the long‑term industry relationships that drive economic impact. In a world defined by rapid technological change, this Lab positions George Mason and our partners to lead with solutions that are practical, responsible, and globally relevant.
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Andre Marshall
Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact
Programs like this reflect IDIA’s role as a translational research hub—connecting academia, industry, and global talent to move ideas into real-world impact. By hosting our global university partners, IDIA creates opportunities for students to engage directly with industry challenges while contributing to broader conversations around innovation, assurance, and emerging technologies.
Experience + Activities
Throughout the week, participants:
- Attended presentations from George Mason faculty and research leaders
- Engaged with industry professionals and company representatives
- Collaborated in teams to develop solutions to complex business problems
- Explored key topics including AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, etc.
The program also featured sessions with university leadership, including Vice President for Research Dr. Andre Marshall, as well as insights from faculty and student researchers.
Student Impact
Beyond technical skills, the program fosters global collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. Students gain firsthand experience working in diverse teams, navigating complex challenges, and presenting solutions in a professional, real-world setting.
Who Helped Make This Event
Peter Schupp (Steinbeis International Management)
Dr.-Ing. Peter Schupp is the CEO of SCMT Steinbeis Center of Management and Technology GmbH, where he leads consulting, talent development, and recruiting initiatives that connect industry with emerging professionals. Through SCMT’s partnership with Steinbeis University School of Management and Technology, he supports the development of future leaders and project-based learning opportunities that bridge academia and industry.
Jeremy Muldavin (Cadence Design Systems)
Dr. Jeremy Muldavin is the Director of Sales Development at Cadence Design Systems, where he leads sales strategy and customer engagement across the aerospace, defense, and government sectors. His work focuses on expanding the impact of EDA, IP, hardware, and services within the semiconductor and microelectronics ecosystem. He holds a BSE in Engineering Physics and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Communication from University of Michigan.
Sponsor a Digital Innovation Challenge
If you’re exploring a new challenge, testing an idea, or looking for fresh perspectives on a complex problem, we’d love to learn more about your goals and where your organization is headed.
At IDIA, we connect organizations with George Mason’s research, expertise, and talent to help explore opportunities, generate new ideas, and develop practical solutions. Whether you are a local government exploring smart city tech, a non-profit seeking data efficiencies, or a tech firm accelerating product development, IDIA will design a sprint that delivers real solutions.