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Building
a "CONNECT-like" Organization in Chicago In 2005, the Economic Development Council and its Technology Commercialization Task Force (TCTF) undertook a review of the state of technology commercialization in this region. In a series of programs and study groups the Technology Commercialization Task Force brought together over 100 individuals from the public, private, academic and other sectors. Following a review of existing material on the matter and discussion of new ideas and concerns, the results were compiled in, "Defining an Economic Development Roadmap for the Region to Obtain the Benefits of Technology". Since the report was issued in October 2005, the Task Force has continued to meet, discuss and analyze the Roadmap with additional organizations and individuals, with the goal of communicating, refining and implementing the Roadmap. One of the key findings was: "The region should establish a resource organization to provide connectivity, benchmarking, marketing and support for technology commercialization in the region." To further explore this and other findings contained in the report, the Task Force will present a breakfast seminar on May 15, 2006. This
meeting will focus on the type of resource organization needed to connect
all of the stakeholders and constituencies necessary for successful technology
commercialization and new business formation in Chicago and the greater
region. The new resource organization would provide a "one-stop-shop"
for information and connection with existing resources required in technology
commercialization and new business formation such as technology, incubation
facilities, sources of capital, scientific and management human resources,
markets, partners, and support and professional services as well as those
resources and programs to be developed as part of the legacy of BIO 2006.
The program will feature speakers representing CONNECT in San Diego, one
of the most successful efforts of this kind in the United States; leading
Midwest organizations; successful international programs; and local civic
leaders. The purpose is to help our community learn about resource organizations
these other communities have successfully created to support their technology
commercialization and new business formation efforts in order to inform
our implementation of one of the import findings of the TCTF Roadmap. |
| The agenda and speakers
are as follows: |
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