Innovation Marquette Enterprise Corporation (IMEC), a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, was created as a business incubator and accelerator to coordinate, inspire, promote, and lead business, government, academic, and community leaders to transform Marquette into a world-class entrepreneurial support ecosystem. We are one of the State of Michigan’s 21 SmartZones. IMEC’s mission is to identify and support technology and technology-enabled innovations, inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs. We help new business start-ups to launch and existing businesses to expand by leveraging the unique set of resources, assets, people, and advantages available in the City of Marquette and throughout the State of Michigan. In addition, IMEC is contracted to manage the day-to-day operations of Northern Michigan University’s Invent@NMU program. Invent@NMU is a unique product and small business accelerator that employs NMU students as project managers, designers, engineers, etc. that provide an array of services to the inventors and entrepreneurs in our community, including student and faculty at NMU, and throughout the region to help launch their ideas into to the marketplace. We believe all ideas are worth exploring® and are proud to be a part of the strong entrepreneurial support ecosystem in Marquette providing positive economic impact to the entire County of Marquette and the UP region as a whole.