In a press conference Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, Furman University President Elizabeth Davis announced that the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) will join the city of Greenville’s economic development team in locating offices in downtown Greenville with NEXT, an entrepreneurial-support organization that operates under the Greenville Chamber Foundation.

“Furman is excited to be part of this shared working space with NEXT and the city of Greenville,” Davis said. “This is an excellent opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to engage in meaningful work with the city, and to help make Greenville a leading innovation hub in the country.”

The Furman I&E launched in August 2018 with Anthony Herrera as executive director. It fosters innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset at Furman by offering programming for students, faculty and staff. It also plays a crucial role in the local innovation and entrepreneurship community as a convener and facilitator. Sharing space in the Next on Main facility, on the third floor of the Bank of America building overlooking ONE City Plaza, enhances that role.

“It’s much easier to have a seat at the table and to help bring organizations together around a table, when that table is literally steps away in a shared space,” Herrera said. “With a location downtown, together with NEXT and the city of Greenville and close to other organizations, Furman is in a prime position to help build the knowledge-based economy and make Greenville a national hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Furman’s participation might surprise some people,