DURHAM, N.H. - University of New Hampshire President Mark Huddleston will be the keynote speaker at Disruptivate! 2012, a day-long conference Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in New Castle organized by the NH Innovation Commercialization Center. The event also features six N.H. entrepreneurs who practice and exemplify "disruptive innovation," including UNH alums Doug Clark '79 of NEF Manufacturing and Ryan Zarick '10 of BuzzDraft.com.

Huddleston will present on his efforts to implement disruptive innovation at UNH beginning at 10:20 a.m. A strong advocate for increasing affordability and accessibility in higher education, Huddleston's 10-year strategic plan for the university emphasizes innovation and entrepreneurship, and he is an advocate of the concept of "Disruptive Innovation" as an important one for all public institutions, especially UNH. In addition, Scott Valcourt, director of strategic technology at UNH, will talk about the Network NH Now Project and how it is bringing next generation broadband opportunities across the state.

Tickets for the day-long conference are $119, and are available online at http://www.disruptivate.biz. The six "disruptivators" are each applying innovative technologies to disrupt big markets like aerospace materials, footwear manufacturing, business intelligence, medical records, fantasy sports, and health insurance.
   
For bios on all of the speakers and the day's schedule go to http://www.disruptivate.biz/conference-details/

The conference is organized by the NH Innovation Commercialization Center in partnership with the University of New Hampshire Office for Research Partnerships & Commercialization, NH High Tech Council, and the abi Innovation Hub of Manchester. Disruptivate! 2012 is made possible thanks to Platinum Sponsor Comcast Business Class, and Pierce Atwood LLP, Network NH Now, and the NH Business Review.

About the NH Innovation Commercialization Center (NH-ICC)

Disruptivate! 2012 is a project of the NH Innovation Commercialization Center. The NH-ICC is a 501(c)3 charitable organization founded in 2010. In partnership with the University of New Hampshire (UNH), our mission is dedicated to accelerating the development of early stage high technology startups and to the commercialization of UNH intellectual capital.

About the University of New Hampshire (UNH)

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.

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