Colleges, Universities Explore How to Lead Growing Innovation Economy

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More than 300 leaders in higher education and business, along with foundations and students will come together from Monday, June 13 through Wednesday, June 15 for the fifth annual Deshpande Symposium for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center in downtown Lowell.

06/09/2016

Contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu

* Media Advisory *

Monday, June 13 to Wednesday, June 15

What: More than 300 leaders in higher education and business, along with foundations and students from across North America will gather at UMass Lowell to explore how colleges and universities can serve as launch pads for entrepreneurial thinking and action in order to fuel business and economic development in their communities.

Participants in the fifth annual Deshpande Symposium for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – founded by UMass Lowell and the Deshpande Foundation – will examine topics such as how to teach students to create their own success as entrepreneurs after graduation, how to foster research commercialization and startups, and how to track the economic impact of university-led inventions and enterprises.

Highlights include:

  • Expanding the leadership role of colleges and universities – Johns Hopkins University President Ronald Daniels will address this topic in his keynote remarks. Tuesday, June 14, 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.
  • Developing entrepreneurial leadership across the Commonwealth – Katie Stebbins, Massachusetts’ assistant secretary of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, will lead a discussion about how the state’s gateway cities engage their residents to address local needs and spur regional economic development. Tuesday, June 14, 9:45 to 11 a.m.
  • The future of higher education in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship – UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, entrepreneur Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande and others will talk about emerging trends in teaching entrepreneurship skills to college students. Wednesday, June 15, 2:30 p.m.

The event includes the presentation of awards to individuals, colleges and universities that are at the vanguard of entrepreneurship education and technology commercialization. For a full schedule and more information, visit www.deshpandesymposium.org.

Where: UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, 50 Warren St., Lowell. For directions and parking information, contact UMass Lowell media relations.

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