2008-09 Northeast Indiana Innovative Business Concept Competition,

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Purdue University, the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center announce the launch of the 2008-09 Northeast Indiana Innovative Business Concept Competition, formerly known as the Opportunity for Indiana Business Plan Competition.

IPFW will host the fifth annual competition, which includes changes other than its name. Sean Ryan, director of university engagement, said, "This competition won't require a complete business plan. Instead, we'll focus on the development and presentation of an executive summary of the business concept, with the most promising one awarded business coaching, support, and grant funding to launch the business venture."

Another change this year is the competition will be conducted in three separate divisions: professional, university, and high school. "Individuals and teams in each division will compete against each other, with an overall winner selected for the competition. That winner will then be entered for consideration in the 2009 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly Innovation Awards," added Ryan.

Registration for the competition is now open and must be submitted electronically at www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/opportunity. The deadline for registration is Feb. 2, 2009. The executive summaries are due March 9, 2009, with the final competition at IPFW Friday, April 17, 2009.

For more information, contact Sean Ryan, director of university engagement, at 260-399-1662 or ryans@ipfw.edu or Jean Eisaman, project manager, at 260-481-6489 or eisamanj@ipfw.edu.