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economic resurgence through the naming and development of Ignition Park,” said U.S. Rep. <br />Joe Donnelly, congressman from Indiana’s Second Congressional District. “I applaud Mayor <br />Luecke and his team, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as South Bend <br />continues to prosper and grow.” <br /> <br />“All forward movement begins with ignition,” said Patrick McMahon, executive director of <br />Project Future, an economic development catalyst for the greater South Bend area. <br />“Innovative individuals and a skilled workforce drove 150 years of development in this <br />community. This name represents a resurgence in local inventiveness, a signal that, as a <br />community, we are returning to our roots.” <br /> <br />A “tipping point” in the decision to locate MIND at Notre Dame for the nation’s leading <br />computer chip makers was the strong partnership between the City of South Bend, Notre <br />Dame and the state of Indiana, according to Jeffrey Welser, Ph.D., director of the <br />Semiconductor Research Corp.’s Nanoelectronics Research Initiative. <br /> <br />“The establishment of Ignition Park, along with Innovation Park, demonstrates that South <br />Bend and Notre Dame are following through on their commitments. You are not just talking <br />about doing things – you are actually doing them,” Welser said. “Together, South Bend and <br />Notre Dame are taking bold steps toward transforming this area into a great source of <br />technological innovation and product development in the future. When I look back to March <br />2008 when we announced the location of MIND in South Bend, and when I look at the <br />progress that has been made since then, including establishing Ignition Park and Innovation <br />Park, it reaffirms – without any doubts – that we made exactly the right decision.” <br /> <br />The collaborative relationship between Innovation Park at Notre Dame and Ignition Park in <br />South Bend is highlighted by the new name. Companies formed at Innovation Park are <br />expected to graduate to Ignition Park, yet continue to receive support services and other <br />benefits from being part of the same state-certified technology park. While Innovation Park <br />will facilitate commercialization for all forms of research, Ignition Park will focus on <br />nanotechnology commercialization of MIND-inspired concepts as well as on other high- <br />potential technologies and ventures, including many emerging from Innovation Park. <br /> <br />“Innovation Park is designed to be a transformational space conducive to the <br />commercialization of new ideas, and a place that provides clients with many of the <br />ingredients needed for real-world success,” said David Brenner, president and CEO of <br />Innovation Park at Notre Dame. “Ignition Park will be a place for these ventures to put down <br />roots and grow their businesses once they are ready to leave Innovation Park. We are so <br />pleased to be able to offer our clients a place to ‘ignite’ in the area, and are looking forward <br />to many years of close collaboration.” <br /> <br />The Mayor also presented prizes to the winners in the public name competition. Although the <br />final name emerged from a community review process, two public submissions were selected <br />for their contribution to the process. <br />? <br />Jeremy Pinckert of Explore Media in Elkhart, Ind., received first place for MINDworks <br />? <br />2 <br />Paul Pedersen of South Bend received second place for South Bend Nano <br />Prizes include an iPod Nano (8 gigabytes), a $100 iTunes gift card and a suite at Coveleski <br />Stadium for a South Bend Silver Hawks game. <br /> <br />- 30 - <br />