The 2015 John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award was presented
to the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) for their development of the Mississippi Bio-Medical Business Collaboratory.
Photo: From left to right: Bubba Weir, vice president of Innovate Mississippi; Tim Coursey, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority; Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi
The Collaboratory is the first healthcare focused entrepreneurial-based facility of its kind in Mississippi, housing a variety of healthcare technology
companies and a state-of-the-art advanced surgical simulation laboratory. The overall goals of the facility are to foster the development of the bio-medical
business sector in Mississippi as well as to help improve and advance the practice of healthcare through technology and training. The project will
create significant job opportunities in Madison County and beyond as a result of both the ongoing operations at the Collaboratory and from companies
that spin off from the Collaboratory.
“The reason the Collaboratory is so impressive is inclusion of all of the critical elements from the beginning – synergistic companies, facilities, support
organizations and the right vision,” said Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi. “Innovate Mississippi is proud to be a partner and
to have already seen the success MCEDA and the Mississippi Bio-Medical Business Collaboratory have had in job creation and creating new companies.”
Tim Coursey, executive director of the Madison County Economic Development Authority, accepted the award during Innovate Mississippi’s 16th Annual Conference
on Technology Innovation luncheon held November 11 at the Jackson Marriott.
“MCEDA is thrilled and humbled to have received the John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award for the Mississippi Bio-Medical Business Collaboratory,”
said Coursey. “Innovate Mississippi has been involved as a consulting partner for the development of the Collaboratory since we began the construction
and renovation phase of it well over a year ago. Innovate Mississippi is therefore very familiar with our mission and goals for the facility and understands
the possibilities we have to accelerate the growth of the bio-medical sector in Mississippi. We very much appreciate them as a partner in this unique
project.”
The first Mississippi Community Technology Leadership Award was presented to John I. Rucker in 2002. In 2008, the award was renamed the John I. Rucker
Community Innovation Leadership Award in honor of Rucker for his outstanding role as a visionary and economic developer.
Innovate Mississippi is a nonprofit organization with the mission to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the State of Mississippi.
Visit www.innovate.ms for more information.
