TechColumbus and Innovation Fisher Partner to Bring Innovate Columbus to the Central Ohio Business Community

Regional business leaders, entrepreneurs and corporate innovation teams will share best practices and exchange ideas for driving innovation during this year’s Innovate Columbus summit April 27 at the Ohio Union. 

Innovate Columbus is presented by TechColumbus and the OSU Fisher College of Business Innovation Fisher student organization.  Previously, both organizations held their own innovation events – The TechColumbus Innovation Summit and the Innovation Fisher “What If?” event.  This year, they have joined forces for greater impact. 

“Innovate Columbus 2011 brings together a fresh and eclectic mix of leading-edge keynotes and experiential lab facilitators who will share how they leverage innovation to create dramatically increased value for their companies and clients,” says Tim Haynes, vice president of TechColumbus. “The event will bring together the brightest minds in a number of industries to talk about best practices and share ideas.”

“Innovate Columbus is for entrepreneurs, creatives, futurists, researchers, corporate leaders and innovation teams from Ohio and across the US,” adds  Michael Bills, executive in residence, The Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University. “Developed by senior business and innovation thought leaders, the event expects to draw more 400 top executives and passionate practitioners to generate actionable strategies for tech-based businesses.”

Keynote speakers include: David Pogue, personal technology columnist for The New York Times; Sarah Lacy, award-winning Silicon Valley technology journalist and author; and Anousheh Ansari, space explorer and CEO/chairman/co-founder of Prodea Systems, Inc. Other speakers include Phil Duncan, global design officer, Procter & Gamble; Drew Banks, head of marketing, Prezi; Tobe Cohen, vice president/general manager for performance nutrition, Abbott; and Bob Johansen, distinguished fellow, The Institute for the Future.  

Attendees will participate in Innovation Labs, with a series of hands-on, collaborative group sessions that explore a range of idea discovery, innovation execution, and other value creation topics. Moderators and panelists for breakout sessions will include executives from a number of organizations, including Battelle, Guidewire Group, Inc., Maketools and Resource Interactive. 

The presenting sponsor for Innovate Columbus is IBM. Other sponsors include The Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, Manta, Porter Wright and Resource Interactive.  Innovate Columbus will take place Thursday, April 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University.

For more information and to register visit www.innovate-columbus.org.