Summer Institute Program Highlights Entrepreneurship Opportunities
July 30, 2014 – Fredericton, N.B. – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Thanks to the University of New Brunswick’s Summer Institute, seven young professionals have expanded their entrepreneurial horizons.
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), and the Honourable Jody Carr, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, joined young entrepreneurs and Summer Institute facilitators and mentors today during a special event that highlighted their new ventures.
Organized by the UNB’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, the Summer Institute offers young entrepreneurs and working professionals the necessary management and innovation skills to become leaders and successful entrepreneurs. The Centre created this summer program to help participants develop and transform their business idea into a successful venture through an intensive full-time, three-month program.
The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, is providing an investment of $48,750 while the Province of New Brunswick is providing $54,250.
Quick Facts:
- The Summer Institute is a unique approach to entrepreneurship that gives young entrepreneurs and other members of the community a chance to start up a business in a low risk environment. It is being offered through UNB’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship. Young entrepreneurs participate in the program from May to August on the UNB Fredericton campus. The program is free of charge for successful applicants.
- The only one of its kind in Atlantic Canada, the Centre is named after Dr. J. Herbert Smith, a graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Engineering who became President and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Canada. An inspirational leader who firmly believed in the power of hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit, Dr. Smith’s endowment funded the establishment of the Centre over two decades ago. His words and wisdom continue to guide the program to this day.
Quotes:
“Our Government is committed to working with young Canadians to inspire them to develop their business ideas and help build a strong, competitive economy. Our investment in the Summer Institute at UNB’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship will expose youth and professionals to entrepreneurship opportunities, creating future leaders that will contribute to building an even stronger business landscape in this region.”
- The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Member of Parliament for Fredericton, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
“Our government is focused on people, skills and jobs. UNB’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, through the Summer Institute, is doing a fantastic job at offering young entrepreneurs and working professionals the necessary management and innovation skills to become leaders and successful entrepreneurs. They are gaining valuable skills which they can carry forward and contribute positively to the New Brunswick labour force.”
- The Honourable Jody Carr, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
“The support we received for the Summer Institute from GNB and ACOA, as well as New Brunswick businesses, is truly humbling. The program focused on "Creative Economy Firms” and we were just amazed by the participants’ passion, drive and integrity, which will have a huge impact on our community. None of this would be possible without the mentorship of our Designers In Residence and Entrepreneurs In Residence who worked tirelessly with the firms.”
- Dr. Dhirendra Shukla, Chair, University of New Brunswick, J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology, Management and Entrepreneurship
Associated Links:
• www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca
• www.actionplan.gc.ca
• http://tmesummerinstitute.weebly.com/
• http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/engineering/tme/
Contacts:
Kelsie Corey
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241
Ann Kenney
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3687
Bruce MacFarlane
Communications
Economic Development
506-453-8607
Dr. Dhirendra Shukla
Chair
University of New Brunswick
J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology, Management and Entrepreneurship
506-453-3540
