The CSM Velocity Center is a place of innovation, learning, and collaboration for academia, the Navy, and the community. This collaborative learning space supports workforce development and economic growth in Southern Maryland. Features include:
The Velocity X Hackathons engage CSM students and local community members in competition to solve problems with innovative solutions. Hackathons include project funding and cash prizes for winning proposals.
Events have included:
The College Innovation Workgroup (CIWG) is a team of faculty and staff who have been meeting to develop ways we can create an ecosystem of innovation at CSM.
The CIWG organizes the Hawk Pitch Challenge, which encourages, celebrates, and incentivizes CSM students and employees to generate innovative ideas to move CSM forward.
MIPS, managed by University of Maryland College Park, provides funding, matched by participating companies, for university-based research projects that help the companies develop new products.
Training and support for businesses
The Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Southern Region, provides training and counseling services to new and existing businesses. Designed for all stages of business development, themed workshops range from business planning, to how to comply with legal and tax issues.
Personalized training for busineses
CSM's WorkForce Center helps businesses increase employee productivity while training and educating the entire staff. Our consultants will first determine what your business needs, then help provide the education, resources, and even venue for training when needed.
"We have all the pieces we need to help people make their entrepreneurial ideas a reality... The first goal is to raise awareness of the resources that are here and start building the connections between them... I’m excited to find ways to connect the classroom to the outside world for students by working with our local businesses and organizations, including the Navy, and finding ways for students to have hands on opportunities to engage with real world innovation."
Charles County Chamber of Commerce Military Alliance Council (MAC) | Estate of Nancy Stephens McMullin | Maryland Department of Housing and Community | Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF) | Michael J. Chiaramonte | Rural Maryland Council
And more!
"To me innovation just means the process of building upon what already works and trying to strive for perfection, even though perfection is not really achievable, but the fact that we're innovating every day and getting closer to perfection is all that matters."
"Innovation is the process of making your imagination come through and the process of creating new things and being able to process them."
"The Hawk Pantry is a weekly opportunity for students who need food to receive canned and packaged food items at no cost." ... "Hawk Feeders - 'Take what you need, give what you can'. So, if you find that you need it — come in and take, like tuna or fast food and salad. If you need it, just come in."