IEDC Spring Conference in A2 in June

[keithinstone]

IEDC is a professional organization for economic developers. It spring conference is close by, in Ann Arbor, June 9-11.

http://www.iedcevents.org/SpringConference/

I have never been to any of their events, but I have checked out their program over the years to see what ED folks think is interesting (every once in a while, they have sessions about how the internet is changing the way companies do business). One year, their main conference was in Columbus and several bigwigs from the Toledo region spoke there and attended.

Anyway, one of the interesting part of the spring conference is a pre-conference session (June 6-7) professional development on Technology-led economic deveopment.

http://www.iedcevents.org/SpringConference/Techled_Development.html

This technical course focuses on the competitive advantage of regions and the role of economic developers and community stakeholders in building an innovation ecosystem. It is important to understand the process of technological commercialization. In this course participants will be introduced to the legal and financial framework for bringing innovation to market, including technology protection and product licensing. Learn how to partner with government, industry, higher education, and the private sector to create a highly integrated network of technology and innovation. Multiple case studies will be presented to explain the role of business incubators, accelerators, venture capital, angel networks, gap financing, and more.

You can get "certification points" for it, which I guess is important if you are an economic development professional.

I am by no means an expert at that stuff, but it looks pretty "classic school" to me. Just wanted to let people see what that looks like. No idea if anyone from around here is thinking of going, or should go.

When I look at the regular program, I see a few things of interest:

Richard Sheridan (who we have visited in A2) on innovation the Menlo way

Placemaking for entrepreneurs

Coworking in small communities

If I had nothing else to do, and money to burn, I would go, even tho the event is not aimed at someone like me. 

I assume RGP, LCEDC, ED folks from the mayor's office, etc. will flock to it since it is so close.I did not see anyone from the Toledo region presenting, but easily could have missed it. It would be interesting to see if we notice anything when those people come back from the conference: more interest in coworking?

Keith