Release from TechConnect West Virginia:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s innovation economy, which employs over 48,000 people in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields, will be on full display at the State Capitol from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 1 during Innovation & Entrepreneurship Day.
The event is hosted by the TransTech Energy Research & Business Development Program and TechConnect West Virginia.
Anne Barth, executive director of TechConnect West Virginia, said, “Innovation & Entrepreneurship Day was developed to showcase the innovative technologies being developed, and the entrepreneurs responsible for creating them, to state policymakers.”
Barth said West Virginia has a vibrant and growing tech economy. Over the past two years, TechConnect’s ScaleUp West Virginia program has assisted 122 entrepreneurs and companies, created 59 new jobs, helped retain 87 jobs, launched 30 new companies, developed 35 new products and 15 new processes, and leveraged more than $5 million in follow-on funding.
As part of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Day, more than 40 exhibitors representing groups throughout the state will demonstrate the vibrancy of the state’s innovation economy in the Capitol Rotunda. Tech-based companies and organizations will display their products and inventions beginning at 8:30am on March 1.
At 12:30pm, TechConnect will announce the winners of their Spirit of Innovation Awards, which recognize leadership in innovation and technology-based business development. The TransTech Energy Research & Business Development Program will also present awards for Excellence in Industrial Energy Efficiency and Advanced Green Manufacturing.
“We have so many exciting things going on in our state’s innovation and technology economy, and we want to make sure others know about them,” said Barth. “The goal of the Spirit of Innovation Awards competition is to highlight some of these success stories and perhaps inspire others who have an entrepreneurial spirit.”
For more information, contact Anne Barth at (304) 444-2918 or [email protected], or visit www.techconnectwv.org.
