Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will host Entrepreneurial Week, March 22-29, to foster economic development in the region and provide inspiration and advice to those contemplating a plunge into the competitive and exciting world of entrepreneurship.
The week-long celebration of entrepreneurship is part of Thinc. at UGA, a new initiative that brings together entrepreneurship experts from industry and academia with faculty, alumni, students and members of the local community in Athens and across the state. Throughout Entrepreneurial Week, lectures, workshops, panel discussions, competitions, and networking events promise to engage, inspire and build the confidence that will help take business ideas from concept to reality.
“UGA has a number of programs, some quite well established, that encourage and reward entrepreneurship,” said David Lee, UGA vice president for research. “We want to give them the visibility they deserve both on and off campus.”
“Our goals are to draw attention to these efforts and to fill in the gaps with additional programs that will more broadly engage the community,” he said.
Entrepreneurial Week includes a workshop on turning research into a business; panel discussions for student entrepreneurs; a science and engineering fair; lessons on the use of social media; a panel on social entrepreneurship; and keynote talks from current and former members of Singularity University, a Silicon Valley ideas incubator that seeks to solve the planet’s most pressing challenges using advanced technologies.
Numerous events are also planned to showcase existing entrepreneurial efforts led by UGA faculty and alumni, who will provide useful lessons based on real-world experiences.
“Our research universities and particularly the land grants should be at the tip of the spear when it comes to promoting economic development and finding solutions to societal problems,” Lee said. “Encouraging entrepreneurship across campus, from the arts to the social and natural sciences, is an important part of fulfilling this mission and one that deserves greater focus.”
For information about the latest events and keynote speakers, see thinc.uga.edu.