"This summit will offer the opportunity for state universities to explorenew ways of partnering to foster economic development," says Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of MEDC. "It is important for the university community, government and businesses to work together."

The summit will feature a number of speakers who have worked successfully to facilitate collaboration with state universities to promote technology transfer and improve the entrepreneurial climate.

Lou Tornatzky of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute in California will serve as the keynote speaker. Tornatzky will discuss his findings in a study that he conducted with 15 major universities that are actively linked with state and local economic development.