Regional Innovation Acceleration Network to Push Tech-Based Startups
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Mark Marich
The Economic Development Administration recently launched its new Regional Innovation Acceleration Network (RIAN), a virtual community of organizations to support technology-based startups." Run by the State Science & Technology Institute, RIAN is an initiative to:
accelerate the growth of Venture Development Organizations (VDO), entities that make direct investments in companies and new ideas and increase access to capital in order to turn innovations into companies with jobs to drive America's economy. VDO's are non-profit, business driven partnerships with government, community foundations, universities and civic organizations focused on promoting technology and innovation-based development. They provide a multifaceted portfolio of services tailored to address specific needs of their particular regional economy.
The new web portal is meant as a meeting point for VDOs to share information and best practices, as well as to identify potential funding opportunities. The site offers a VDO Locator map and in the weeks ahead, it will highlight a series of profiles of successful VDOs, including:
- Automation Alley in Southeast Michigan
- Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeaster Pennsylania
- CONNECT in southern California
- Enterprise Center of Johnson County in Kansas
- i2E in Oklahoma
- Innovation Works in southwestern Pennsylvania
- North Dakota Center for Innovation
- Sirti in western Washington and the Inland Northwest
- TechColumbus in Ohio
- Technology 2020 in the Tennessee Valley Corridor
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