From the Dean

The Center for Convergence and Innovation (CCI), the future physical home to the Michigan Tech College of Business (COB), will serve as the cornerstone of the University’s efforts to meet the workforce demands and entrepreneurial innovations of the future. Co-locating the College of Computing and COB within the CCI will catalyze the process of preparing Tech business graduates who thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by a confusing and ever-changing business landscape where convergence is the norm and boundaries between disciplines have largely been eliminated. As the world’s markets and economies continue to respond to digitalization, there will be an increasing need for digitally savvy and agile workers who are able to design and implement solutions to rapidly emerging problems.

The CCI will position Michigan Tech as a national leader in the training of business professionals who seamlessly integrate computing to create competitive advantages for their corporations. Our goal is to train graduates who are innovative, entrepreneurial, and equally comfortable working and leading in both business and technology. 

Why Business + Computing?

The College of Computing was founded in 2019 with the idea that it will support other disciplines.
The new building will help integrate computer science into business applications. The interface
of computing to business is critical for improving the industries, employment, and competitive
nature of our state.

Within the $70 million capital request to the State of Michigan, details of the CCI building include:
• Active-learning, computer-learning, and remote-learning classrooms • Convergence centers of excellence (FinTech, cybersecurity, data science and business analytics, health informatics, and tech-based entrepreneurship)

•  Entrepreneurship training hall
•  Flexible collaboration spaces
•  Large-, mid-, and small-sized lecture halls
•  Open-access conference rooms
•  Reconfigurable digital makerspace
•  Reconfigurable collaboration spaces
•  Student learning centers

Theme-based, shared digital lab facilities A second phase of the CCI would include space for
public-private partnerships. Part of that plan includes business incubators. Businesses could also get involved with Enterprise teams or work with faculty on short- or long-term projects, contributing to economic development, both in this local area and across the state. The recently completed extensive campus master plan lays out the future growth of the physical campus. The plan located the CCI across US-41 from Wadsworth Hall. Alumni have already provided significant financial support for the new building via the COB Building Fund account 1132.

Visit mtu.edu/business/giving and join your fellow Huskies in providing the COB with a state-of-the-art home that matches the aspirations of our College.

Sincerely,

Dean Johnson,

Dean, Michigan Tech College of Business

dean@mtu.edu