Ingenuity a Finalist for 2013 Chicago Innovation Awards

Chicago, IL— Out of a record-breaking 562 nominees, Ingenuity has been selected as one of the Top 100 Finalists still in the running for the 12th annual Chicago Innovation Awards.  The awards celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region across all organization sizes, sectors and industries.  1,500 business and civic leaders will come together to honor the winners when they are announced on October 30th at Chicago’s Harris Theater.

The innovation nominated by Ingenuity is a public/private partnership focused on putting the arts back into every Chicago public school. The work is driven by the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan and implemented through the innovative and groundbreaking CPS Arts Education Plan and Creative Schools Initiative.

“Ingenuity is honored to be amongst the very innovative and creative finalists this year. We truly believe that working synergistically, we have a once in a generation opportunity to reintegrate the arts back into CPS, thereby fostering the next generation of innovative and creative Chicagoans.”

As one of the Top 100 Finalists, Ingenuity will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend The Practical Innovator, a day-long executive education course on September 27th led by top faculty who teach innovation at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Each of the Top 100 Finalists is also in the running for the annual “People’s Choice Award,” selected through online balloting at www.chicagoinnovationawards.com.

“Chicago is in the midst of a monumental upsurge in innovation,” said Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder with Chicago journalist Dan Miller of the awards.  “It’s inspiring to see the range of vision and the depth of talent among organizations in the Chicago area.  Companies are investing in innovation and taking more risks to launch new ventures and uncover new value.”

Out of the Top 100 Finalists, the judges will select 10 winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards, as well as winners of the Up-and-Comer Awards representing innovation in the start-up community, the Social Innovator Award and the Collaboration Award.  The winners will be invited to ring the NASDAQ Bell in New York City, invited to separate meetings with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Governor Quinn to discuss their innovation and profiled in Crain’s Chicago Business.