Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020

At the start of the Spring 2012 semester, CIC2020′s program coordinators challenged this year’s leadership class to design an initiative that would help drive regional economic development through strengthening university/community partnerships and supporting an entrepreneurial culture. In addition to compiling the ideas researched by the seven previous cohorts of CIC2020 students, they met each week with leaders from the local and regional government, university, and business community.

This year’s research led to the conceptualization of a BIG initiative: the Binghamton Innovation Galaxy. The initiative encompasses an intelligent networking of innovation hubs that encourages student ingenuity and enterprise, provides connections to resources, and fosters relationships between individuals and entities on campus and in the community.

The main goal is to contribute to the socioeconomic growth of our region by empowering young talent and inspring them to be innovators. What is the mission? 1. to present entrepreneurship as a viable career option and 2. to encourage members of the local community to start their own ventures here in Greater Binghamton.

This year’s leaders hope to begin implementing the recommendations by coordinating weekly events and programs to help aspiring, new, and current entrepreneurs – from concept to reality. They received an initial donation to kick off the initiative and are exploring additional options for funding the BIG programs. The final report and individual student papers will soon be posted on www.cic2020.org.

The program coordinators can be contacted by e-mailing cic2020@gmail.com or sending a message through CIC2020′s Facebook page.

CIC2020 is excited to announce that the Proseminar in Civic Entrepreneurship, formerly known as the CIC Leadership Institute, will be offered for the fifth consecutive year during the Spring 2012 semester to a select group of students at Binghamton University. Building off the past years of CIC student research, the forthcoming cohort of students will be working to produce a task force report that focuses on the creation of an innovative venture accelerator that fosters student ingenuity and enterprise, establishes linkages to resources, and builds relationships with leaders of entrepreneurial initiatives on campus and in the community.

CIC2020′s Faculty Adviser and Dr. Diane Crews (Course Instructor), will be accompanied by former CIC2020 student Director (2007-2009) and founder of BiziLife Ventures, Kathryn Fletcher (Project Coordinator) and senior bioengineering student and founder of InVenture, Chris Paquette (Course Assistant).

The course is open to all Binghamton University students, but class size is limited to 25 and instructor permission is required. Applications (available here) will be accepted until December 11th or until the course is filled. Questions can be directed to cic2020@gmail.com.