Get Involved
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board advises the GAME Change Leadership Team and Governance Board related to its mission in the context of innovation ecosystem best practices. The Advisory Board members represent established industries, growth-stage startups, venture capital, and ecosystem builders from innovation hubs and recently awarded Type II Engines. The Advisory Board will meet twice annually, remotely and once in person, at a GAME Change Summit.
Inclusion Council
GAME Change intends to be “The Inclusive, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Engine,” placing intentional structural, time commitment and budget investments into diversity, inclusion, equity and access. The Inclusion Council must be populated by diverse representatives of the Engine’s impacted communities, including from both rural and urban regions. It will advise the Leadership team in all Governance Board meetings related to ensuring that GAME Change operates inclusively as possible with feedback from its diverse communities across the Southeast Commerce Corridor (SCC). The Inclusion Council will meet quarterly, including in person, at GAME Change Summits
GAME Speed Committee
The GAME Speed Committee’s purpose is to ensure all GAME Change activities are driven with a “speed to market” approach to meet industry adoption needs, providing feedback on “fail-fast” industry timelines and quick win opportunities. The Committee will include industry product development professionals, venture capital investors, entrepreneurs, and private sector commercialization experts in the Southeast Commerce Corridor (SCC). The GAME Speed Committee will meet twice yearly, including once at a GAME Change Summit.
Working Groups
Working Groups for each of the four core GAME Change functions below have operational responsibility to validate concepts with industry participants and produce proposed strategic plans (GAME Plans) according to set milestones for execution in the NSF Engine Type-2 period. Each Working group is populated by Core and Collaborative Partner representatives, new collaborators, faculty researchers, and additional industry and investment community expertise, including small businesses and startups. The Working Groups will meet regularly and welcome new and interested collaborators to join.
Use-Inspired Research & Development (UIWG):
- Working with core and collaborating partners to identify, prioritize and match unmet needs with partner expertise and capabilities for the Southeastern Commerce Corridor (SCC).
Innovation Translation to Practice (TWG):
- Design and execute best-in-class networked technology translation systems focused on incentivizing industry engagement, increasing capacity and conversion rates, ensuring speed to market, developing ‘vendor-ready’ venture studios and growing venture capital assets under management.
Talent & Workforce Development (WWG):
- Utilize and coalesce frameworks from existing programs and shared-degree networks of Kentucky and Tennessee to compound the benefits of our talent and workforce development in the Southeastern Commerce Corridor (SCC).
Ecosystem of Partners (EWG):
- Design a consortium Engine model that will provide compelling value to all members toward sustainability goals and ensure that core functions are fully supported by the ecosystem of partners.
Events:
GAME Change Summits: Summits will be held twice per year and separately hosted by University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Vanderbilt University, and University of Tennessee Knoxville. Each Summit will be an engaging, 1.5-day meeting of GAME Change leadership, partners, collaborators, and community representatives to discuss and validate the structure, strategy, and progress of GAME Change for optimal impact.
Major Gap Validation Workshops: Validation Workshops will identify and validate unmet industry needs, develop use-inspired research and development plans, and design research projects for proposed execution. Validation Workshops are open for attendance by industry collaborators, small businesses and large companies, and community representatives to help identify and validate the potential for societal impact from innovation solutions.
Inaugural Workshop and Summit: August 23-24, 2023 at Dale Hollow State Resort Park
REGISTER for either or both days.
Water Breaks: Weekly virtual “office hours” for anyone to meet with GAME Change leadership, discuss the projects and its progress and learn how to get involved. GAME Change Water Breaks are every Thursday, 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET on Zoom. To sign up and join a discussion, submit the Contact Us Now form below, check “Attend Water Break,” and let us know which date you would like to join. We will send you a calendar invitation with the Zoom link.