FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University will host the second annual Bobcat Innovation Launch Pad competition Nov. 1-3. This year’s theme is “Revive and Thrive: Reimagining Rural Resilience,” inviting student participants to reimagine and redesign rural landscapes, transforming challenges into opportunities for economic and cultural renaissance.
“Last year’s Bobcat Innovation Launch Pad was an enormous success, enabling students to collaborate, articulate ideas and find solutions to challenging problems,” said Michael Flinn, a professor and chair of FSU’s Department of Computer Science and Information Technology. “This year we’re looking for individuals passionate about moving civilization forward, one region at a time.”
The competition is an opportunity for teams of students to work quickly and collectively to conduct market research to develop business models and technology-based solutions to problems that address economic, social and cultural needs of the region and ensuring a vibrant future for Western Maryland. The multidisciplinary effort brings together expertise from fields including technology, health care, agriculture, humanities, environmental science, social sciences and the arts.
“As we work toward cultivating a holistic culture of health in rural communities, the need for high-functioning, multidisciplinary teams has never been greater,” said Kara Platt, an associate professor and chair of FSU’s Department of Nursing. “I look forward to seeing the innovative solutions that emerge from this collaborative effort.”
Over the course of the event, teams will design or build a prototype, create a business plan and ultimately pitch their plan to influence and inspire a team of judges to invest in their idea. The top three teams will receive funding, mentorship and resources to bring their innovations to life.
“I would encourage students to think beyond traditional products and also consider services that will align well with rural areas’ needs,” said Curtis Clemens, an assistant professor in FSU’s Department of Recreation and Parks Management. “This approach could foster a more resilient and sustainable local economy by drawing on the strengths of the surrounding environment and community interests.”
The Bobcat Innovation Launch Pad is open to all students in any undergraduate or graduate degree program. An engineering or coding background is not required — students just need to be curious and highly collaborative.
“I’ve witnessed such an intense level of personal, professional and academic growth in the students who participated in this event,” said Flinn. “This is a truly unique opportunity that the Maryland Innovation Initiative and TEDCO have provided for Frostburg students, and everyone should be excited to be a part of it.”
Interested students must apply online no later than Oct. 25 at 11:59 p.m. Visit https://www.frostburg.edu/competitions/bobcat-innovation-launch-pad/2024.php to reserve a spot. There is no cost to participate, and lunch and light refreshments will be provided.