NMU Partners with VCU's Shift Labs Network

Northern Michigan University has announced a new partnership with Shift Labs Network™, an initiative spearheaded by Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) da Vinci Center for Innovation. The Shift Labs Network™, a Fast Company 2023 Innovation by Design award winner, is dedicated to accelerating access to innovation and entrepreneurship educational opportunities through a collaborative network of educational institutions, partner organizations and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

SISU: the Innovation Institute at NMU led the university's effort to develop the partnership. It is intended to provide NMU students and faculty access to the state-of-the-art facilities and resources of VCU's Shift Retail Lab. This will increase the breadth of opportunities for creating additional collaborative partners-opportunities that are not immediately available to NMU students and faculty.

Through the collaboration, NMU students and faculty will benefit from the growing portfolio of stackable credentials and engage in multi-institutional collaboration, allowing for an enriched educational experience that prepares students to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

"We're excited to welcome Northern Michigan University to the Shift Labs Network™! Having spent time on the NMU campus and with their university leaders, I'm confident this partnership will complement and catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship within the NMU community and beyond," said Garret Westlake, associate vice provost for innovation, executive director of VCU's da Vinci Center for Innovation, and co-founder of Shift Retail Lab.

"Becoming a member of the Shift Labs Network™ is a significant step forward for Northern Michigan University, said Bill Digneit, founding director of SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU. "This partnership expands our innovation and entrepreneurship education capabilities and enhances our ability to collaborate with other forward-thinking institutions.

"We are thrilled to provide our students with access to the groundbreaking Shift Retail Lab and the award-winning educational programs developed by VCU, fostering a dynamic learning environment that will empower our students to become the innovators of tomorrow by unleashing and supporting those who think differently, who envision a future yet to be known."

According to its website, the Shift Labs Network™ is a place for human-centered innovation and developing practical skills for curious minds. The Shift Retail Lab is an alternative type of retail that offers a lab-type approach for creative thinkers and doers from a wide range of backgrounds to put their ideas into action. It provides a dynamic space for emerging entrepreneurs to test their ideas through sales and direct customer feedback. Learn more here.

NMU media contact: Bill Digneit, [email protected] or 906-360-0751.