MI2 Innovation Competition Finals Held at Kentucky Industry Conference

[Image: Mi2 FallConference Sneaks 21 scaled]

The first-ever Kentucky Industry Conference served as the perfect stage for the finals of the MI2 Innovation Competition.

The second iteration of the MI2 Innovation Competition was run, and sponsored, by Render. It began with a nationwide search over the summer for pilot-ready innovations relevant for the metals industry. A set of four finalists were then invited to pitch to a panel of expert judges at the event.

As part of the Tech Innovation track, the pitch session on Oct. 29th in Louisville brought together innovators eager to tackle pressing challenges in the metals industry, presenting forward-thinking solutions that pushed the boundaries of technology and efficiency.

[Image: Mi2 FallConference Sneaks 19 scaled]

The finalists represented a diverse range of innovations:

• John Dahlberg and Andrew Dahlberg with Talknician
• Léopold Dobelle with Mitico
• Adil Khan and Michael Beaton with MaxPTS
• Brandon Young with Pascal Tags

[Image: Mi2 FallConference Sneaks 20 scaled]

Each finalist captivated the judges and session attendees with their practical approaches to real-world metals industry challenges. The judges faced a difficult decision, as all the innovations displayed remarkable potential to drive the metals industry forward.

Ultimately, Pascal Tags, led by Brandon Young, took the top prize, as part of the Industry Awards luncheon held on Oct. 30th at the conference.

Pascal Tags are described as "barcode killers"—a durable, low-cost, printed RFID solution designed to serve as a drop-in replacement for traditional barcodes. Unlike their predecessors, these tags are engineered to withstand the demands of industrial environments, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for managing supply chains.

[Image: Pascal Tags 2]

According to his LinkedIn statement, Brandon Young was very excited to present Pascal Tags to leaders in the metals industry and Brandon stated how Pascal Tags can take the pressure off the supply chain. Winning this competition is a significant step forward for Pascal Tags and MI2 and its member companies are excited to work with the company.

The MI2 Innovation Competition was a testament to the creative talent and entrepreneurial spirit driving Kentucky’s metals industry forward.

MI2 thanks all the finalists for their outstanding contributions and the judges for their thoughtful deliberations. Events like this underscore the power of innovation to create tangible solutions that can reshape industries for the better.

We look forward to exploring a pilot with Pascal Tags in the year ahead, and to continue playing a role to connect innovators to the metals industry to explore solutions and opportunities that strengthen Kentucky's vibrant metals sector.