The University of Baltimore's Center for Digital Communication, Commerce and Culture and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation are working together to support UB's "digital entrepreneurs"—those students who are making their way in developing new businesses with deep roots in high-technology, such as apps, web development and 3D printing.
The two centers established a partnership to support mentoring opportunities for digital entrepreneurs, and to make it easy for these students to test out their ideas in the Digital Design and Fabrication Corner in the newly established Edward Attman and Mildred Cohen Attman Student Incubator in CEI's location in the William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center (home of the Merrick School of Business), 11 W. Mt. Royal Ave.
Eusebio Scornavacca, the University's Parsons Professor for Digital Communication, Commerce and Culture and director of the CD3C, said the partnership will strengthen UB's expertise and infrastructure in the area of digital transformation as well as entrepreneurship, with the goal of creating socio-economic prosperity and vital, forward-thinking communities.
"In this changing world, where the most popular media company on the planet—Facebook—produces no content, the largest taxi company—Uber—owns no vehicles, and the leading accommodation provider—Airbnb—doesn't own real estate, there is an urgent need to align workforce development initiatives and entrepreneurial activities with transformative digital innovations and business strategies that create positive social impact and prosperity," said Scornavacca, who also serves as an associate professor of management information systems in the Merrick School of Business and is a world-renowned expert on mobile information systems and digital transformation. "Our partnership is great for maximizing the University's capabilities in service to our students."
John Zuknick, who recently resigned as director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said, "Digital is set to revolutionize the world, and this partnership just makes sense. Digital technology is a key ingredient to creating innovative startups—something of great interest to our students."
Matthew Jung, a member of the Merrick School's 2018 cohort of Entrepreneurship Fellows and a transfer student from Howard Community College, is enthused by the centers' partnership as he continues work on his start-up, Synaesthetic Solutions. The company plans to create holographic 3D displays for businesses in a variety of ways. Jung points to holographic figures like Tupac and Whitney Houston and their appearances in concert settings as an application of the technology.
"Just having someone who knows the 3D process already was really helpful," Jung said of his involvement with the centers.
Learn more about the Center for Digital Communication, Commerce and Culture. the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Merrick School of Business.