Blue Dot to propel GVSU, Grand Rapids as tech hub

A common theme among the event's speakers was Grand Valley's long-standing commitment to addressing the needs of the Grand Rapids community and economy. Nearly 65 years ago, the university was founded in response to business leaders recognizing the need for a highly skilled workforce.

So, too, will the Blue Dot Ecosystem create the next generation of tech workers for Grand Rapids' burgeoning tech industry, said College of Computing Dean Marouane Kessentini.

"Blue Dot symbolizes our commitment to fostering education and preparing the next generation of leaders in the digital age," Kessentini said. "So this college will bridge the gap between computing and other fields like health care, engineering, arts and so on because we need it.

"We will bridge the gap between academia and industry to get business leaders the right balance that they need to innovate through our research and to commercialize our research."

Randy Thelen, president and CEO of The Right Place, emphasized the relationship between Grand Valley and the local tech community with Blue Dot at the center of an expanding network of collaboration.

"Blue Dot is to the tech economy, what the Medical Mile is to the health sciences economy," Thelen said. "This is going to be the hub and the spokes will extend throughout the region, bringing tech opportunities to students and adult learners, and also to the business community helping elevate our economy."