Pittsburgh Stars as a Smart City at Global Entrepreneurship Event at Carnegie Mellon University

Entrepreneurs and investors gathered Friday at Carnegie Mellon University to discuss smart city innovations and technology as part of the Road to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit — Pittsburgh.

The daylong event focused on Pittsburgh as a smart city leader. Ramayya Krishnan, dean of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, emphasized how CMU's partnerships with the city and Allegheny County have benefitted many of the applications coming out of the university.

"Innovation and entrepreneurship are in the DNA of Carnegie Mellon," Krishnan said. "We have amazing faculty and students from CMU working in close partnership with the city and the county, and out of this have come innovative startups and ways of really improving the quality of life of citizens, while creating economic development opportunities and jobs right here in Pittsburgh."

The event included opportunities to hear directly from people and institutions at the forefront of entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and innovation and technology. Eric R. Jones, deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Scott Ticknor, acting special representative for the U.S. Department of State, kicked off the event with a keynote fireside chat. Panel discussions and entrepreneur talks featured representatives from CMU and the City of Pittsburgh, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.

The U.S. Department of State selected Pittsburgh as one of three U.S. cities to help raise awareness for the eighth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), Nov. 28-30 in Hyderabad, India. GES serves as a vital link between governments and the private sector, and convenes global participants to showcase projects, exchange ideas and champion new opportunities for investment. Milwaukee and Houston hosted Road to GES events earlier this month.