DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire and Alpha Loft will co-host a breakfast roundtable on "Universities as Economic Change Agents" Friday, April 17, 2015, at the UNH Manchester campus, Pandora Building, room P201, from 7:30-9:30 a.m.

The innovation economy requires a constant flow of ideas and opportunities, a well-educated population, and a supportive community. Creative and innovative areas of the U.S., like Boston and Silicon Valley, are often located near excellent research universities. Similarly, emerging economies around the globe are looking to research universities to drive ideas and economic growth. During the roundtable discussion, panelists will consider best practices and strategies for New Hampshire's business community to better utilize resources at the state's research universities, and to strengthen New Hampshire's economy.

"Universities have always been at the center of idea generation. Even Abraham Lincoln recognized the economic value of education by creating the country's land-grant universities in hopes of creating more productive agriculture," said Marc Sedam, associate vice provost for innovation and new ventures at UNH. "It is becoming more and more common in the U.S. and across the world to see research universities leading the next generation of economic opportunity in their region."
Panelists include:

• Dr. David Winwood - Chief Business Officer of Pennington Biomedical Research Laboratory and President-Elect of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
• Phil Weilerstein - CEO of VentureWell (formerly National Collegiate Innovators and Inventors Alliance)
• Marc Sedam - Associate Vice Provost for Innovation and New Ventures, UNH

This event is free and open to anyone interested in the ongoing conversation about the roles and potential opportunities for faculty, staff, students, communities, and government to support and benefit economically from the ideas being developed at our state's universities. For more information and to register for the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/universities-as-economic-change-agents-tickets-16254881789.

Alpha Loft is dedicated to accelerating the development of early-stage, scalable businesses, commercializing the intellectual capital developed at UNH and other leading educational institutions, and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the state of New Hampshire. Alpha Loft supports and provides resources to entrepreneurs, improving their prospects for successfully launching and scaling innovation-based businesses.

Alpha Loft's success means a strong entrepreneurial culture in NH, creating companies and high quality jobs. In addition to high value programming, events, advice, and mentoring, Alpha Loft has locations in Durham, Portsmouth, and Manchester where entrepreneurs can start and build their companies.

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 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.