Category: MD&M MiniTec

MiniTec Oct 2025 Program

Posted on by Theresa Shafer
Medical polymers innovations, challenges and opportunities

A one-day conference where presentations from the industry will discuss the latest developments in the area of medical plastics.

Online Registration: https://xpressreg.net/register/mdmm1025/landing.asp

October 21, 2025 – Schedule of Events: 

8AM REGISTRATION & POSTER SETUP

9AM – 5:30PM MINITEC PROGRAM

9-11:15 AM MORNING SESSIONS

12-1:15 PM LUNCH & SPE POSTER SESSION

1:15-5 PM AFTERNOON SESSIONS

  • Mark Wehde, Mayo Clinic – How Technology is Helping Us Reimagine Healthcare
  • Theresa M. Reineke, University of Minnesota, Machine Learning Reveals Chemical Features in Polymer Micelles Determines mRNA Binding, In Vitro, and In Vitro Performance and Tropism
  • Heather Baeten, Boston Scientific – Leveraging Material Characterization Partnerships to Accelerate Failure Investigations and Manufacturing Solutions in Medical Devices
  • Mike Kratochvil, Exponent – Protein-Plastic Interactions

4:15-5:30 PM SPE MPD RECEPTION, INDUSTRY NETWORKING & POSTER SESSION

  • Don’t miss the networking. Students invited to join leaders from the industry.  

Wrapping Up MiniTec Minneapolis 2024

Posted on by Theresa Shafer

Wrapping up another successful year at the SPE MPD MiniTec Conference in Minneapolis during MD&M MidWest!

It was fantastic to reconnect with colleagues and see so many new and familiar faces. Here are some of the highlights from our one-day event:

Conference Highlights

Our special keynote featuring Dr. Art Erdman, Founding Director of the Bakken Medical Devices Center, set the tone with a thought-provoking presentation.

Speakers included:

  • Rob Klein, AtriCure Inc.
  • Chun Wang, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
  • Wei Shen, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
  • Chris Konitzer, Avient Corp.
  • Patrick Haney, MTD Micro Molding
  • Shrubs Manna, Foster Corp.
  • Louis Somlai, Eli Lilly
  • Chris Ellison, University of Minnesota, IPPRIME
  • Wei Zheng, University of Wisconsin–Stout, Plastics Engineering
  • Len Czuba, Czuba Enterprises
  • Paul Briant, Exponent
  • Kimberly Chaffin, Medtronic
  • Chris Lyons, Exponent

This event featured presentations on innovations in materials, biopolymers, diagnostics, device-enabling polymers, drug delivery, design, manufacturing, 3D printing, testing, sterilization, and sustainability. Speakers included both academic and industry leaders in the medical devices industry.  We also held a successful student poster session. The top-ranked student poster award went to Marcus Flowers, UMN Biomedical Engineering.

Poster Session and Networking: 

The full-day conference was followed by a popular networking reception. MD&M Midwest brings together key players and industry experts who focus on the challenges and innovations shaping the industry.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to the team that made all this possible: Rob Klein, Chris Lyons, Len Czuba, Ron Dugas, Joanne Moody, and many others behind the scenes.

We’re proud to be part of MD&M Midwest, where collaboration drives the next wave of innovation in medical plastics. See you next year!