Get Innovative at Carolina!

This week, the Innovate@Carolina series brings some exciting events related to entrepreneurship to UNC.  Chancellor Holden Thorp, author (with Buck Goldstein) of Engines of Innovation: The Entrepreneurial University in the Twenty-First Century, is a member of President Obama’s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  Other members of the NACIE will be on hand on Monday and Tuesday to share their thoughts about new ideas and economic growth.

Today, March 14th, is “An Evening with Steve Case and Desh Deshpande: Changing the World through Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy.”  Chancellor Thorp will moderate the discussion with Case and Deshpande, who are co-chairs of the NACIE.  At this rare panel opportunity, they will share ideas about innovation, entrepreneurship, and change with UNC-CH students and the general public. (The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required to enter. Tickets will be available through the Carolina Union box office through noon today, or available at the door. Doors at the FedEx Center’s  Mandela Auditorium will open at 5 p.m., with the panel discussion beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by Q & A).

On March 15th, UNC hosts the first public forum meeting of the NACIE.  Several council members from a variety of backgrounds will discuss a range of topics dealing with generating economic growth from combining the efforts of innovators from universities, businesses, and individuals.  Chancellor Thorp will open the talk, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will also make remarks.  The meeting is open to the public at 9 a.m. in the Koury Auditorium of the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Chancellor Thorp recently blogged about the importance of these events and what an increased focus on entrepreneurship means for creating long-term change not just here at UNC, but for the entire country and beyond. Read his thoughts here.  These events are a great opportunity to see some big names in entrepreneurship bounce around some even bigger ideas.