Innovation DuPage

Building the Regional Innovation Ecosystem

Our economy needs more entrepreneurs who can be agile, flexible, creative and keep pace with an increasingly complex world where technology is a growing part of every business, where industries are merging, and where yesterday’s approaches will not work.

Innovation DuPage is a cooperative venture promoting business growth and job creation. It involves partners from higher education and the public and private sectors working together to guide entrepreneurs, small businesses and new companies on the path to success. 

Building momentum

Modeled after other effective innovation centers like Chicago’s 1871 and Washington State’s Business Accelerator at Everett Community College, Innovation DuPage will serve as both a business incubator and accelerator, connecting small businesses with the necessary resources to thrive and stimulate job growth. 

Meeting needs

Innovation DuPage will provide a variety of opportunities for participants who utilize the center, from idea sharing and mentoring to workshops and workspace access. Set to open in 2018, Innovation DuPage will harness the strengths of all its partners to nurture and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Building on a History with Results

College of DuPage has 50 years of successful support of economic and workforce development.  COD has trained and educated over 1 million students through its comprehensive program portfolio of nine associate degrees, over 170 certificate programs and 50 areas of study. In addition to the 28,000 credit students served each term, COD Continuing Education serves an additional 25,000 students each year.

In FY15 and FY16, COD's Center for Entrepreneurship helped small and medium-sized businesses close $192 million in contracts, $4.7 million in exports and $9.5 million in capital loans. Since 1994, the Center has supported over $1.2 billion in economic development. 

Contact Information

For general Inquiries: ID@cod.edu