Trine to Host Innovation Challenge

April 8, 2014

News Release

Angola, Ind. -- Trine University and Fifth Third Bank Indiana challenged residents and students to come up with great ideas and now everyone can see the new concepts for business and technology during a two-day exposition set for April 11-12.

Twenty-five entries were received for the inaugural Innovation Challenge presented by Fifth Third Bank. Nancy Martin, senior vice president of Fifth Third Bank (Central and Northeast Indiana) and Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president, will announce the winners and award prizes at noon Saturday, April 12, in Trine University's new Jim and Joan Bock Center for Innovation and Biomedical Research, room 232. The event is free.

"It's been exciting to meet the entrants with such creative minds and to learn about these clever concepts for technology and business," said Tom DeAgostino, executive director of Innovation One (i1), the entity conducting the competition. "We're grateful for the support of Fifth Third Bank because it makes the Innovation Challenge possible."

Fifth Third Bank (Central and Northeast Indiana) pledged its support for the Innovation Challenge with a $100,000 gift for awards and scholarships. The contest is open to residents and students.

"The Innovation Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to help some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the area realize their dreams. Fifth Third has a long history of supporting small business, and we're proud to associate ourselves with this effort to think differently and explore new ideas in business and technology," Martin said.

For the technology category, participants were encouraged to think about technological inventions or advances while entries in the business category focused on a new business idea or service. First place is worth $2,500, with $1,000 for second and $500 for third. The Best Student Entry and Best Community Entry will also be announced.

The expo, from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 11, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, allows residents a chance to learn more about the projects and ideas entered in the competition and talk with the entrants about their concepts. The event will take place in Trine University’s new Jim and Joan Bock Center for Innovation and Biomedical Research, room 232, and admission is free.

Innovation One, housed in the Bock Center, is a venture that brings ideas to market by providing expertise and services to help promote economic growth in Northeast Indiana and the region. It offers a range of services that enables students from every area of study to get involved. Among the services offered are engineering consulting, prototyping, research and development, testing and assessment, and market research. For more information about Trine’s Innovation One, visit Innovation1.org.
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Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $130 billion in assets and operates 17 affiliates with 1,326 full-service Banking Centers, including 104 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week, inside select grocery stores and 2,586 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 25% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of December 31, 2013, had $302 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Member FDIC.

Trine University, an internationally recognized, private, co-educational, residential institution, offers associate, baccalaureate, and master degrees in programs to students in engineering, mathematics, science, informatics, business, teacher education, communication, criminal justice, golf management, social sciences, and various other fields of study. Trine is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and offers 21 varsity sports. Its golf program includes the university-owned 18-hole championship Zollner Golf Course. Founded in 1884 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org), Trine operates a 450-acre main campus in Angola, Ind., and education resource centers throughout Indiana, Arizona and Michigan.

Source: Trine University