Join us for the 2nd Annual Regional Day - a report to the community of initiatives and results of the first region-wide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), known as Vision Hampton Roads. Regional organizations will share innovations such as simulations, avatars, virtual worlds and NASA Knights robotics team during the event. A special innovation video will debut. We anticipate an attendance of over 600, including investors interested in Hampton Roads. KEYNOTE: Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer to the President of the United States and former Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth of Virginia, will address the citizens of Hampton Roads as to U.S. initiatives surrounding innovation and their relationship to Hampton Roads. Chopra's work and knowledge of the challenges facing Virginia will help launch the Hampton Roads region into its global - technology - future and help reinforce the "grow your own" innovation development strategy. Innovate!HamptonRoads™
- connecting entrepreneurs, ideas and investment.
 Innovate!HamptonRoads™ is a critical component of Vision. The mission is to promote locally grown, technology-based economic development in Hampton Roads so the region is recognized internationally for clusters of excellence, fueled by a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic and educational opportunities. Innovate!HamptonRoads™, led by the Hampton Roads Partnership, is about bringing the regional tech incubators together with the tech business clusters (Aerospace, Bio-science, Coastal Energy, Modeling & Simulation, Robotics, Sensors) to connect ideas, entrepreneurs and capital and successfully commercialize the wealth of research in the region. This network includes business and entrepreneurial support, university and business partnerships, forums and networking, both peer-to-peer and virtual, and physical infrastructure. http://InnovateHamptonRoads.com Regional Day is designed to ENLIGHTEN and: - ENGAGE the citizens to focus attention on the dire need to diversify the regional economy and the best way to hedge all bets is through innovation.
- EXCITE the business community on job creation and job growth through creativity, with this selling tool - the region as "innovation hotspot" - to attract new business.
- EMBRACE the change, especially the culture of entrepreneurism; it is a requirement for innovation - failure is not an option.
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