April Summit Promotes Collaborative Research on International Competitiveness

Seats Are Available for April 1-2 Event in Chicagoland

 A new collaborative center aiming to provide research leadership in the study of complex international competitiveness issues is hosting a summit with a unique goal – to promote large-scale, team-based interdisciplinary research generating breakthrough knowledge for major advancement, particularly on topics that have public policy implications.

The newly launched Center for Advanced Study in International Competitiveness (CASIC), with support from the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), is hosting “Competing in the New Innovation-Driven Global Economy.” It will take place April 1-2, 2011, in Chicago, presenting the latest findings on the international competitiveness of firms and nations by leading researchers from academia, industry and government.

Summit registration is open to the public and continues until March 25 or sell-out. Alumni of the seven sponsoring CIC member institutions are encouraged to attend; a special alumni rate is available.

The sponsoring universities are University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Indiana University; University of Iowa; University of Michigan; Ohio State University; Pennsylvania State University; and Purdue University.

”This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in working with CIC colleagues on innovative research that has both scholarly and practical significance. Our goal is to create new impactful knowledge through interdisciplinary inquiry and experimentation that will transform what we currently do and lead to greater progress and global prosperity,” said Joseph Cheng, CASIC's director and Professor of International Business and Director of the Illinois Global Business Initiative (IGBI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The summit is designed to provide a forum for CASIC faculty and other participants from industry and government to meet and exchange research ideas; explore mutual interest for collaboration; and form cross-institutional interdisciplinary teams to scale up their investigations for greater impact. It will include breakout sessions for participant groups to develop preliminary research proposals which CASIC will then combine into larger grant proposals for external funding.

For more information, contact CASIC director Joseph Cheng at jlcheng@illinois.edu or 217-333-2963.

The CASIC Research Summit is presented with support from the CIC along with the following sponsoring organizations:

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Office of the Provost
  • Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
  • Office of the Associate Provost for International Affairs
  • Center for International Business Education and Research
  • Center for Translation Studies
  • Collaborative for Cultural Heritage and Museum Practices (CHAMP)
  • College of Law
  • Illinois Global Business Initiative
  • Lemann Institute for Brazilian Studies
• Indiana University
  • Office of the Provost
  • Center for International Business Education and Research
  • School of Public and Environmental Affairs
• University of Iowa
  • Office of the Provost
  • Office of the Vice President for Research
  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Iowa Social Science Research Center
• University of Michigan
  • Center for International Business Education
  • International Institute
  • Ross School of Business
• Ohio State University
  • Office of the Vice President for Research
  • Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs
  • College of Arts & Sciences, Divisions of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Mathematical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • College of Education and Human Ecology
  • College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
  • College of Medicine
• Penn State University
  • Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Smeal College of Business
  • College of Health and Human Development
  • Penn State Law
  • School of International Affairs
• Purdue University
  • Center for International Business Education and Research
  • Krannert School of Management