Ingenuity Frontier is a collaborative project of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji State University, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northland College, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and several of our region’s manufacturers.
Since its inception, these partners have worked together to accomplish the following goals:
GOAL: Increase the pool of manufacturing and applied engineering talent in Northwest Minnesota.
- Offer a pre-engineering curriculum in area middle schools and high schools.
- Deliver degree programs in manufacturing and applied engineering.
GOAL: Promote a culture of manufacturing and applied engineering innovation in Northwest Minnesota.
- Establish an Applied Research Center in collaboration with business and education.
GOAL: Brand Northwest Minnesota as a hub of manufacturing and applied engineering talent and innovation.
- Implement a targeted marketing campaign to attract high‐skill workers and businesses to Northwest Minnesota.
GOAL: Increase the availability of investment capital for innovative industries in Northwest Minnesota.
- Create a regional equity investment fund.
The accomplishments to date include:
- Launch of 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence
- Creation of two engineering degree programs by the 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence
- A state-of-the-art R&D facility built on the BSU campus
- Implementation of Project Lead The Way (a pre-engineering curriculum) at several of our region's middle and high schools
- Establishment of a regional venture capital fund: Pine to Prairie Angel Fund, LLC
- Implementation of an entrepreneur acceleration project—the IDEA Competition
- Establishment of a regional brand – Ingenuity Frontier
All of these initiatives have one purpose in common—to enhance the economy of Northwest Minnesota by supporting manufacturing, innovation and education. For more on Ingenuity Frontier, visit the website, www.ingenuityfrontier.com, or email info@ingenuityfrontier.com.
