BINGHAMTON, NY – The SUNY Business and Education Cooperative of the Southern Tier (SUNY BEST) will host a presentation, titled “The New York Innovation Economy,” at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in room LN 1324C of the Continuing Education and Outreach Department on the Binghamton University campus. This presentation is free and open to the public.

Governor Cuomo recently announced the formation of an Innovation New York network to revitalize New York’s innovation economy. Guest speaker Tom Moebus, deputy director of the SUNY Levin Institute of New York City, will discuss his efforts to build an innovation network on the West Coast. He will also talk about the work of the Levine Institute, which is creating several creative approaches to economic and workforce development. Topics include the New York in the World project, which identified action steps to grow the NY economy and several creative approaches to economic and workforce development pioneered in NYC at the SUNY Levin Institute. An active dialogue will be encouraged about how-to connect the dots to increase investment.

Tom Moebus has held the position of deputy director of the SUNY Levin Institute since 2006. Last month, he was also appointed to a new role as director of investor development for the SUNY Research Foundation, where he is responsible to support SUNY innovation through connections with private investment. He spent 17 years at MIT, serving as director of corporate relations, and developing major international partnerships. He then spent ten years in California, serving as vice chancellor at the University of California, Irvine – and then co-founding OCTANe, a regional innovation hub which has helped hundreds of innovation based startups to greater success since its founding in 2002.

Pre-registration is required at http://ceo.binghamton.edu/bande/sunybest. For additional information, e-mail dhulbert@binghamton.edu.

Directional signage will be visible for those entering the main entrance of the campus from the Vestal Parkway. Parking is available at the visitors’ paid lot, across from Bartle Library and in the parking garage behind the Couper Administration building.

SUNY BEST is a volunteer group comprised of senior staff members from key economic and educational institutions in the Southern Tier. The group works to forge strong alliances, strengthen industry specific needs and provide information and outreach for business.