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Innovation Campus Partnerships


Are you ready to elevate your business to new heights? Look no further than the WKU Innovations Campus, where groundbreaking collaborations and cutting-edge technologies converge. From pioneering startups like the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) to billion-dollar global enterprises like Holley Research and Development, our diverse community of clients is a testament to the dynamic ecosystem we've cultivated.

 

Why Partner with The Innovation Campus?

Diverse NetworkJoin an exclusive community of high-tech innovators, including MI2 and Health Zenith, that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Global Opportunities:  Rub shoulders with billion-dollar companies and startups alike, opening doors to a world of possibilities and partnerships.

State-of-the-Art Facilities:  Access top-not facilities equipped with the latest technology, providing an environment conducive to innovation and growth.

Collaborative Culture:  Foster meaningful connections with the like-minded professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders through our collaborative events and initiatives.

 

Your Business, Our Campus

Whether you're a startup with groundbreaking ideas or an established global player, WKU Innovations Campus welcomes businesses of all sizes and industries. We believe that diversity is the key to driving innovation, and our campus is designed to accommodate the unique needs of each enterprise.

 

Join the Innovation Revolution

The list of impressive clients at WKU Innovations Campus is constantly expanding, and we invite your business to be the next success story. Seize the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community that is shaping the future of technology and business.

Don't miss out on the chance to propel your business forward. Get involved with WKU Innovations Campus today and be at the forefront of the innovation revolution!

 

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AccelerateKY

This new statewide nonprofit launched in fall 2021 with the goal of connecting, informing and inspiring leaders across Kentucky’s regions, business sectors and stakeholder groups to strengthen the state’s capacity for innovation. A set of WKU-supported visits between researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Kentucky innovators in 2017 led to Kentucky becoming the first U.S. state accepted to MIT’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP) the following year. AccelerateKY was established in its wake and is now headquartered at the Innovation Campus.

“The Innovation Campus provides an idea environment where creative and entrepreneurs can innovate and cross-pollinate in an unfettered ways,” said AccelerateKY Board President Rusty Justice, an entrepreneur from Pikeville, Kentucky. “It is a real asset to Kentucky’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.” For more information VISIT US HERE.

Civic Imagination Incubator

Formed in fall 2022, the Innovation Campus headquarters also houses a new Civic Imagination Incubator program, a partnership between WKU Potter College of Arts & Letters and the University of Southern California’s Civic Imagination Project. This eight-month pilot program will support six media creators based in Kentucky and surrounding states as they explore bringing civic imagination and building it into the stories they create.

“We are excited to launch the Civic Imagination Incubators with such committed and thoughtful partner,” said Dr. Sangita Shresthova, co-founder of the USC- Civic Imagination Project. “We look forward to seeing the stories, projects and imagination come alive, and are grateful that the Innovation Campus will give our folks the space to explore their creative projects.” For more information VISIT US HERE.

Kentucky to the World

Kentucky to the World (KTW) announced its new location in the new Collaborative SmartSpace at the WKU Innovation Campus in December 2022. The Louisville-based KTW was recruited to be one of the Collaborative SmartSpace's initial tenants, sharing the region's innovations with the world.

"Kentucky to the World's new home will allow us to showcase the vibrancy of Bowling Green's community, economy and workforce," KTW President/CEO Shelly Zegart said. "Our goal is to inspire talented people to come from beyond our borders to find their futures-and stories about those futures-in Bowling Green and Kentucky." For more information VISIT US HERE.

MIT Open Documentary Lab KY Fellowship

Drawing on MIT’s legacy of media innovation and its deep commitment to open and accessible information, the MIT Open Documentary Lab brings storytellers, technologists, and scholars together to explore new documentary forms with a particular focus on collaborative, interactive and immersive storytelling. The organization had long run a fellowship program, but fellows were traditionally documentarians who were in residence in Massachusetts.

MIT worked with a non-profit housed at the WKU Innovation Campus – AccelerateKY – to establish the fellowship. Lamont “Jack” Pearley was the first recipient, a renowned folklorist and host of the weekly African American Folklorist segment on WKU Public Radio. Read more about the MIT Open Documentary Lab Kentucky Fellowship.

“I cannot think of a better or more deserving person than Lamont ‘Jack’ Pearley to be the inaugural recipient of the MIT Open Documentary Lab Fellowship,” said WKU Potter College Dean Dr. Terrance Brown. “His groundbreaking work in the areas of blues, folklore and community engagement provides impactful insight into diverse communities. I am honored to have him represent WKU in this project.” 
South Central Workforce

The South-Central Workforce Development Board announced in late 2021 the formation of the new Bowling Green Area Workforce Participation Task Force with full-time staff. The Task Force will envision, pilot, and enact a new program to increase workforce participation and bring new talent into the region to answer the continued demands of current and future employers.

“The WKU Innovation Campus is the perfect setting to invite problems solvers and creators into a conversation on how we can improve regional workforce participation,” said Jon Sowards, President and CEO of the South-Central Workforce Development Board. “The collaborative spirit of the lab will help the Workforce Participation Task Force attract the brightest minds in our community to develop solutions to meet the needs of employers and job seekers in our fast-growing and evolving economy.” For more information visit South Central Workforce.

 

Innovation Campus Partners

Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce

City of Bowling Green

Gordon Ford College of Business

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

Kentucky Innovation

Kentucky Office of Entrepreneurship

Warren County, Kentucky

WKU Research Foundation


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 Last Modified 6/3/24