USI leads in finalist positions for 2015 UEDA Awards of Excellence

Leading representatives from the University of Southern Indiana (USI) will compete in this year's University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Annual Summit in Anchorage, Alaska September 27-30. USI will present on various University programs, which are nationally-recognized finalists in competition for UEDA Awards of Excellence.

In its first year presenting for an Award of Excellence, USI leads the competing universities in the number of finalist positions. USI will compete against institutions such as the University of Kansas, Penn State University, the University of New Mexico and Iowa State University.

The UEDA Annual Summit is organized for universities to share ideas and best practices with others involved in economic development initiatives. This year, USI has been identified as an Awards of Excellence finalist in three categories: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Research and Analysis, and Talent Development. Respective topics to be presented in competition include USI's Technology Commercialization Academy (TCA), Measuring Innovation to Induce Innovation (I-69 Innovation Corridor) and the Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center Initiative (SwISTEM). Winners of the Awards of Excellence will be crowned based upon their presentations in Alaska.

An additional panel discussion will be given on the I-69 Innovation Corridor, a regional initiative focused on creating an innovation incubator with the ability to transform the surrounding area through entrepreneurship, innovation and talent development. This development continues to spread as now more than 32 counties from multiple states are impacted by I-69's expansion.

"The state of Indiana is represented well with USI, IUPUI, Purdue University and Indiana University all presenting at the UEDA Annual Summit in some shape or form," said Michael Thissen, manager of I-69 Innovation Corridor. "With USI snatching three of the competitive slots in our first year of submitting, it's clear we're on the right track for innovation. Our continuous collaboration with boundary spanning institutions speaks well of USI's capacity to develop and keep talent."

In order to present at the Annual Summit, applicants submitted presentation proposals to a national panel of peer institutes. To be considered for an Award of Excellence, separate nominations were submitted. USI representatives attended the 2014 Annual Summit in Santa Fe, New Mexico and were also asked to give a general session presentation.

The theme of the 2015 Annual Summit is "Unlocking Diversity: Innovation + Talent + Capital," one which will complement its Alaskan landscape. More information about UEDA and the Annual Summit can be found at http://universityeda.org/.