Cornell University The Johnson School at Cornell University

2009 Headlines

The Business and Science Technology Initiative (BSTI) is re-born as the Innovation Interface

Initiative re-organizes while maintaining fundamental platform, principles and purposes

October 29, 2009 | Ithaca, NY | The Business of Science and Technology Initiative (BSTI), now known as the Innovation Interface, has undergone an identity shift and has re-dedicated itself to the field of research and education related to technical innovation and business growth.

Earlier this year, the BSTI initiative was terminated and re-constituted as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational entity dedicated to performing, teaching and researching real-world innovation. More recently and building upon the model initiated here at Cornell, the Innovation Interface began a similar initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

"The re-commitment to this initiative will position us to act as a catalyst in integrating innovation oriented companies with the talents and capabilities within the Cornell community," said Guy DiCicco, executive director of the Innovation Interface. "The fundamentals of our platform, principles and processes, however, will remain consistent. We will continue to offer world-class experiential learning opportunities via student internships linked to innovative companies, a Seminar Series featuring top-notch speakers on the subject of innovation as well as courses that focus on the state of the art innovation practices and management processes."

"Having the Innovation Interface now affiliated with MIT can only help and strengthen the impact the Innovation Interface will have for the Johnson School, the businesses with which the initiative partners and the University as a whole," said Randy Allen, associate dean for Corporate Relations at Cornell's Johnson School.

BSTI was established in 2006 by Prof. Eugene Fitzgerald and Dr. Andreas Wankerl as a joint effort between Cornell's Johnson School and Engineering School in order to focus on the training and education of tomorrow's innovators.

For additional information or questions, contact Guy DiCicco at (607) 255-7859.