SIIA is now is accepting applicants for its Innovation Incubator Program. Selected developers of promising new technologies in the K-12 and postsecondary space will be invited to participate in the Innovation Incubator Program at the 10th annual SIIA Ed Tech Industry Summit in San Francisco, May 5-7, 2013. The deadline to apply for the Innovation Incubator Program is March 8, 2013.
The SIIA Innovation Incubator Program identifies and supports entrepreneurs in their development and distribution of innovative learning technologies. Since 2006, the program has provided incubation for dozens of successful products and companies in their efforts to improve education through the use of software, digital content, and related technologies. The program is open to applicants from academic and non-profit institutions, pre-revenue and early-stage companies, as well as established companies with newly developed technologies.
All education technology companies are encouraged to apply – from start-ups to established innovators. A panel of industry professional judges will then select 10 participants and one alternate to present their products during the Ed Tech Industry Summit. One winner and one runner-up will be selected in the Most Innovative and Most Likely to Succeed categories by conference attendees. Educators and administrators from around the U.S. will vote for the Educator’s Choice Award after online presentations from the selected participants. Classroom, Inc. had the distinction of receiving the first-ever Educator’s Choice Award at the Ed Tech Business Forum in New York City last November.
Innovation Incubator Program participants will be selected from the applicant pool based on key selection criteria, including:
- The extent to which their innovation represents a “sea change” in thinking
- Potential to positively impact education by way of enhanced student achievement, teacher effectiveness, cost reduction, and efficiency
- Education focus and end-user impact/market need for the innovation
- Representation of K-12/postsecondary market levels
- Level of originality and innovation
The Innovation Incubator winners at last year’s Ed Tech Industry Summit were:
- The Language Express, which teaches social and life skills to 3-21-year-olds
- Game-enhanced Interactive Science, which promotes scientific literacy and student interest in science careers
For more information about the Innovation Incubator Program, or to apply, visit http://siia.net/etis/2013/incubator.asp.
Karen Billings is Vice President for the Education Division at SIIA. Follow the SIIA Education Team on Twitter at @SIIAEducation