Bloch Joins KC Coalition to Support Innovation
Release Date: Apr 02, 2009
The Year of Innovation was created as a way to spotlight the legacy and future of innovation in Kansas City, celebrating creative thinkers and their integral contributions to Kansas City, the nation and the world.
The Bloch School at UMKC is proud to be a member of The Innovation Team, a collaboration of organizations that have come together to celebrate, support and encourage innovation in the Kansas City region to ensure our region’s economic sustainability.
Did you know…?
Kansas City was ranked among the top 12 cities in the world to watch for innovation by FastCompany magazine, sharing the spotlight with Beijing, Barcelona, Moscow and Abu Dubai.
In 2009, Kansas City is hosting more innovation-related conferences and events than ever before, including the National Business Incubation Association Conference, the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), and the North America Works International Conference.
More than 20 Kansas City-area organizations have come together to bring awareness to innovation (list of participants below).
“In recessions and extremely uncertain economic times, entrepreneurs and innovators will be essential to the success of the economy, says Bob Marcusse, president & CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. "When the traditional ways of doing business are no longer viable, innovation is essential.”
Over the past three years, more than 20 current or recently graduated students from the Bloch School’s Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI) have launched ventures either while in school or shortly after graduation, creating viable businesses that will lead to more jobs.
“There are not a lot of jobs out there right now,” says Michael Song, executive director of the Institute. “Students who create new ventures during an economic downturn are positioned to take advantage of new growth opportunities once the economy begins to recover.”
One of IEI’s primary goals is annually create 100 exceptionally well-trained entrepreneurs and 10 high-growth ventures, thus preparing and launching the next generation of innovators.
For more information about Innovation Team participating organizations or to get involved in the Year of Innovation, visit innovationkc.com.
The Innovation Team includes representation from: Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC); Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; UMKC Bloch School; UMKC Innovation Center; KCSourceLink; Greater KC Chamber of Commerce; Economic Development Corp. (EDC) of Kansas City; Arts Incubator of Kansas City; Kansas City Small Business; Global Prairie; Entrepreneurial Education Foundation/FastTrac National Headquarters; InvestMidwest Capital Forum; MO Small Business & Technology Centers; KU Center for Technology Commercialization; Enterprise Center of Johnson County; Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) Pipeline; Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC); KC Small Business Magazine; Kansas University; Hallmark Cards;; Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce; Greater Kansas City World Trade Center; KCPT-Public Television; Kansas Women’s Business Center.
