Bennet Welcomes Colorado Leaders to Innovation Summit

The Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) will hold its inaugural Innovation Summit this week in Denver, bringing together Colorado business leaders focused on creating a 21st century innovation economy. The summit will be held August 29-30 at the Denver Art Museum.

“Colorado has established itself as a leader in innovation, technological development, and economic growth.  This gathering of our state’s top innovators is a perfect example of ongoing work to foster that culture,” Bennet said. “A economy focused on the future will help create the job growth and ensure we compete and lead in the 21st century.”

The Summit will help elevate the state's innovation climate, featuring two days of presentations and panels focused on the most forward-thinking strategies that can propel Colorado’s economy. The delegation is made up of innovation leaders from around the state and country, representing business and industry, not-for-profit, research labs, academia, government and entrepreneurs.

During his time in the Senate, Bennet has worked to promote an innovation-focused economy in Colorado. Last year, he brought together “Coloradans for an Innovation Economy” to identify ways to promote economic competitiveness at the state and national levels through a greater focus on innovation and cross-sector collaboration. The group presented a report, Colorado Competes, to Bennet, Senator Mark Udall and Governor John Hickenlooper that included policy recommendations and action items where federal and state governments can focus attention. In July, Bennet released a progress report, Colorado Competes: One Year Later, which outlined advances in several areas that were recommended in the original report, including improved federal and state collaboration, a successful bid for a regional U.S. Patent Office, regulatory reform, and new paths to bring capital into the state. 

COIN was created in November 2011 by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper to connect and convene innovation leaders across Colorado's public, private, and academic sectors. To learn more about the Summit, visit www.coloradoinnovationnetwork.com.