What happens when you bring together hundreds of Vermont technologists, CEOs, students, professors, artists, authors, and government leaders for two days of far-reaching discussion about achieving a brighter economic future for our region? Partnership. Exploration. Collaboration. Creativity. And a whole lot of networking.
Last week, the University of Vermont opened its campus to the region’s business leaders, entrepreneurs, and economic development organizations with the first Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Summit, introducing an intensive new partnership approach to building a bright and prosperous future for Vermont and the region.
“The RISE Summit provided a promising first look into the potential of cooperation and collaboration to make positive change for the betterment of our communities, our state, and our region,” said UVM President Suresh Garimella. “By convening so many dynamic thinkers and leaders, this summit created an urgent sense of purpose – fueled by possibility and positivity.”
A first-of-its-kind gathering at UVM, the RISE Summit attracted more than 900 registrants, in-person and online, for panel discussions, keynotes, performances, and presentations across a broad spectrum of topics and themes. The core theme of partnership—particularly across all sectors and in all parts of Vermont—framed much of the summit’s content.
Speakers and presenters ranged from CEOs to authors to ground-breaking researchers. The summit opened with welcome remarks from recently retired U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) who called the RISE Summit “a milestone in collaboration” for a rural state like Vermont.
The senator emphasized the importance of recognizing the breadth of challenges facing Vermont, including supporting agricultural communities, strengthening food systems, revitalizing downtowns, developing our workforce, increasing affordable housing, producing more sustainable energy, supporting entrepreneurs, and maintaining our infrastructure.
“Convening stakeholders, defining and solving the challenges of rural communities together gives us the best odds for a bright future,” Leahy said.
Other speakers and panelists included Kyle Clark, CEO of Beta Technologies; Lindsay Kurrle, Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development; Sunny Eappen, CEO of the UVM Health Network; Rhonda Phillips, president of Chatham University and author of Sustainable Communities; Tony Boccanfuso, president and CEO of University Industry Demonstration Partnership; Jay Wahl, executive director of the Flynn; Dominic Endicott, partner at Northstar Ventures and author of Knowledge Towns; and UVM’s President Suresh Garimella and Vice President for Research Kirk Dombrowski.
Messages, ideas, and tough questions from the presenters and participants were as diverse as their backgrounds. How does economic development work differently in rural and urban settings? What emergent technologies in our region are solutions for our nation and world? What is the brand of Vermont? What is the power of creativity in building a vibrant economy? Is Vermont already a “knowledge corridor”? How can we bring together innovators and investors? How do we harness the power of a leading public research university in our efforts?
Cynthia Belliveau, special advisor to UVM’s Vice President for Research and former dean of continuing education was the creative force behind the RISE Summit. Over more than two decades at UVM, she has cultivated deep connections with corporations and communities throughout the state.
“As the state’s flagship and land grant university, UVM can and will serve as a convenor and catalyst to bring together partners to explore and implement solutions to some of the most pressing needs of our region,” Belliveau said. “My job, as summit creator, was to produce an event that embodies this vision.”
“I’m so proud of the many faculty and staff who came together to support and inform the agenda. Clearly, we hit it right with attendance that shows how much our region is interested in partnering with one another and with UVM,” said Belliveau. “We look forward to continuing what was started at this incredible inaugural event.”
“The milestone of the first RISE Summit and its successful, statewide attendance signals the beginning of a new posture for UVM,” said Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research. “We are eager to put knowledge to work for the benefit of the state and the state is excited to connect with UVM.”
Over the last four years—much of which overlapped with the pandemic—UVM has nearly doubled its research activity, now ranking among the top 100 public research universities in the nation according to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
“Our research growth is largely around our faculty’s distinctive excellence in the environment and human health,” said Dombrowski. “These are two enormous, multi-disciplinary areas that impact all people in Vermont and worldwide. Combining the innovations of research with the vision of Vermont’s entrepreneurs and the practical ingenuity of Vermonters is a path upon which we are ‘all in’ – not just during the RISE Summit, but permanently.”
The next RISE Summit will be June 24 and 25, 2024. This year’s program and recorded sessions will be available at uvm.edu/rise.