Pictured during the 2023 Southern Illinois Business Plan Competition Powered by Regions Bank grand prize check presentation are: (from left) Melissa Ray Roach, director of business incubator programs at SIU; Matt Harmon, Regions Bank assistant vice president; Scott Hamilton-Brehm of Thermaquatica; Constantinos Tsatsoulis, SIU vice chancellor for research and graduate school dean, and Matt Baughman from the Office of Innovation and Economic Development at SIU. (Photo provided)
December 02, 2024
Everyone welcome at SIU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase Dec. 5
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase on Dec. 5 will celebrate the region’s newest innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs. Everyone is invited.
The event, which follows the SIU System’s Technology and Innovation Expo, is slated for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive in Carbondale. The evening will feature SIU patent presentations, special recognition for graduates of two of the center’s programs, the announcement of winners in a business plan competition and other noteworthy accomplishments. Hunan Fine Asian Cuisine will provide refreshments.
“Those attending this special evening will have a golden opportunity to discover some of the impressive creative activities and advances happening at SIU and in the surrounding area,” said Lynn Andersen Lindberg, executive director of Innovation and Economic Development and of the SIU Research Park. “The showcase will also spotlight some of the transformative projects underway that will have a lasting impact on the community and the future, and we will be recognizing and celebrating the innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the region and the people who are making it happen.”
Eclectic program
A wide assortment of activities is planned during the illuminating showcase. SIU will honor Innovative people affiliated with the university who have received patents for inventions or processes in the last year.
SIU’s Illinois Small Business Development Center will honor representatives of area businesses who have recently completed and graduated from the comprehensive 10-week Launch That Business “fast-track” training program. The intensive Launch That Business program is designed especially to assist home-based or small business entities get their business concepts on track, offering entrepreneurs practical steps for registering their enterprises as legal entities and providing them with simple tips and tools for maintaining their businesses.
In addition, organizers also will announce winners of the 2024 Southern Illinois Business Plan Competition Powered by Regions Bank. The competition invited new business concepts, pre-venture plans or existing small businesses from Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, White and Williamson counties to enter. Local competitions were held in October and the regional final was held in November with the finalists competing for a share of more than $20,000 in prize money and in-kind services.
Organizers will also recognize graduates of the Carbondale Accelerator program as well as some of the SIU faculty and staff who ensured the success of the big 2024 Tolar Solar Eclipse celebration. There will also be a presentation recognizing SIU’s Illinois SBDC as the winner of 2024 Illinois SBDC of the Year honors.
For more information about the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Showcase, call 618-536-4451.