The purpose of this Golden LEAF grant is to assist Western Carolina University with the creation of the Carolinas Innovation Collaborative for New Products in Adaptive Technology for Healthcare and Aging in collaboration with 17 participating state and western North Carolina organizations. This project will establish a sustainable infrastructure for nurturing innovative ideas through collaboration between the academic community and small enterprises and innovators in rural North Carolina and stimulate the launching of at least eight new products annually for the health care industry and the aging population. This project will create a model for innovative product development that could be replicated in other technological sectors and areas of North Carolina.
