Innovation-Led Economic Development

Goals

Foster economic development around the world – Embedded in GT’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, the team will assess the impacts of innovation-led economic development programs, improve frameworks used in the field, develop recommendations and action plans to inform public and private investments and initiatives, and identify which communities can best benefit from innovation-led economic development interventions. The team will integrate pedagogical and social approaches to complex economic development challenges; develop metrics for understanding impacts of interventions; and transition ideas and innovations to practice.

Issues Involved or Addressed

Communities all around the world are interested in growing their economies. Previous practices of economic development created win-lose situations. Innovation-led economic development seeks to foster economic opportunity around the world through inclusive, sustainable, impactful collaborations with universities, innovators, governments, and nonprofit organizations. EI² Global’s mission is to foster economic opportunity around the world through inclusive, sustainable, impactful collaborations with universities, innovators, governments, and nonprofit organizations. EI² offers a comprehensive set of tools to support entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives as important ways to promote local economic growth in communities. The VIP team will explore practices and conduct qualitative and quantitative research to assess the impacts of innovation-led economic development programs. The team will integrate pedagogical and social approaches to complex economic development challenges; transition ideas and innovations to practice; and develop metrics for understanding impacts of interventions. Entrepreneurship is a primary engine of economic growth in communities. Many of our projects include supporting and researching startups and small businesses.

Project #1: We are creating an innovative program for Food Tech, AgTech, and food & beverage entrepreneurs in Georgia. The research includes a literature review, gathering data about current programs, conducting a needs assessment and a gap analysis, and writing recommendations for an incubator and accelerator for the state of Georgia.

Project #2: How might we engage members of the Puerto Rican diaspora to support entrepreneurs on the island? The research includes a literature review, gathering data by interviewing members of the diaspora, conducting surveys (both qualitative and quantitative research), and then writing recommendations.

Partners/Sponsors

Georgia Tech Food and Beverage Accelerator Georgia Tech Innovation LabEI2 Global https://global.innovate.gatech.edu/ATDC – Advanced Technology Development Center https://atdc.org/