The University of New Brunswick has launched the UNB Network for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a new initiative that brings together the university's entrepreneurship programs and organizations within a single network.
In a message to partners, Acting President and Vice-Chancellor Kathy Wilson said the Network will serve as a central hub for UNB's entrepreneurial assets, with the goal of making it easier for entrepreneurs, researchers and external partners to collaborate.
The university said the initiative is intended to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, expand support for startups and build on the estimated $125.5 million economic impact generated by UNB startups and spinoff companies.
Dr. Dhirendra Shukla has been appointed the inaugural executive director of the Network. The Network team can be reached at entrepreneurship@unb.ca.
The Network includes seven existing entrepreneurship-focused organizations and programs:
- International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (IBEC), which supports entrepreneurship research, education and international business development.
- J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, which delivers entrepreneurship education and experiential programs for students and researchers.
- Wallace McCain Institute, which provides leadership development and peer-learning programs for entrepreneurs and business leaders.
- Pond-Deshpande Centre, which promotes social innovation and entrepreneurial thinking through education and community partnerships.
- Barrett Chair in Entrepreneurship for Digital Transformation, which advances research and teaching on entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
- McKenna Institute, which supports innovation and digital transformation through research, policy work and collaboration with industry and government.
- Axis Accelerator, which helps researchers and entrepreneurs commercialize technologies and launch new ventures.
Wilson said the university intends to work with partners through the new Network to strengthen entrepreneurship in New Brunswick and across Canada.
