The International Center for Studies in Creativity (ICSC) will cohost the second Creativity and Innovation Management Community Meeting at Buffalo State College May 28–30. The conference will feature keynote speakers from Taiwan, England, France and the United States addressing an anticipated crowd of more than 300 from across the globe.



The idea behind the conference is innovative in itself—bringing together academic thought leaders and business experts to discuss the latest, cutting-edge thinking in regard to creativity management.



Together with the journal Creativity and Innovation Management, the ICSC created this forum for the exchange of ideas to further strengthen and build innovative efforts among researchers, major corporations and inventors.



“The goal is to create dialogue between scholars and business practitioners that will provide new insights into effective ways to bring about creativity and innovation in organizations,” said Gerard Puccio, department chair and professor. “It is now argued that we live in the age of innovation, where well-known economists suggest that the engine that drives our economy is creativity.”



Jo Yudess, ICSC lecturer and conference chair, echoes Puccio’s comments when highlighting the networking opportunities available at the conference.



“Researchers will have the opportunity to learn about needs and interests of businesses, while business leaders will discover how research could impact their own organizations,” Yudess said.



More than 40 presentations following the conference’s theme of “Integrating Inquiry and Action” will cover topics such as social entrepreneurialism, team development, design management and how to increase business flexibility in light of growing market pressures. Speakers from Fisher-Price, IBM, the University of Oklahoma and three international institutions will discuss how to develop and maintain innovative cultures and the nature of innovative leadership.



The first Creativity and Innovation Management Community Meeting was held in Oxford, England, in 2001 as a traditional academic conference. The ICSC hopes to make this year’s meeting more of an event, hosting an opening reception at the Adam’s Mark and an expo in the campus Sports Arena featuring food, vendors, entertainment and activities. “We are looking to make this year’s meeting the benchmark for future conferences,” Yudess said.



Offering the only master of science degree program in creative studies in the country, along with a minor in creative studies, Buffalo State has developed a reputation as the home for innovation and creativity.