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CIE Building

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Discover CIE

The UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index

This index is the first of its kind in measuring the economic activities in oceans and waterways with a tilt towards their environmental impact.

artificial oyster beds

CIE Idea Test Lab

Powered by Wells Fargo, Idea Test Lab is an early-stage entrepreneurship course to enable founders to determine if there is business value in an idea. Each of the four sessions will focus on different entrepreneurial design topics such as value proposition, identifying the customer's problem, competition, and market analysis.

UNCW Building

Founder's Roundtable

Specifically for CIE tenants, coworkers, and high-impact CIE members, the Founders Roundtable is a facilitated monthly meeting of the highest potential entrepreneurs in southeast North Carolina.

Seahawk statue

Coastal Entrepreneur Awards 15th Anniversary

The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards recognizes up-and-coming ventures in our region as well as established companies that keep innovating.

People that are posing at the coastal entrepreneur awards.

High-Schoolers Tackle Entrepreneurial Process

The YEPex Youth Summit and Chancellor’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge provides high-schoolers first-hand access to the problem-solving entrepreneurial process and resources to continue to pursue their solutions after the competition’s end.

Student stands on stage and gives presentation about Starbucks “Breaking free from plastic”

Ocean Innovation Conference September 19th

CIE held its first Ocean Innovation Conference in 2023, exploring technical and sustainability innovations in the blue economy. The 2024 Ocean Innovation Conference is scheduled for September 17. Stay tuned for registration!

Ocean Coast

Global Entrepreneur Week (GEW)

GEW Wilmington is a celebration of entrepreneurship in the greater Wilmington region. It highlights some of the best of Wilmington's entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. November 11th - 16th, 2024

international flags lined up

CIE Supports The Alliance For The Blue Economy

The Alliance for the Blue Economy, also known as All Blue, supports Blue Economy entrepreneurs and innovators, promotes the Cape Fear region as a Blue Economy innovation hub, assists in the creation of Blue Economy-ready infrastructure and attracts Blue Economy investment capital.

UNCW CIE building

Our Team is Here to Help

The CIE Staff is here help you on your journey of innovation & entrepreneurship. We are ready and available to answer your questions.

Contact The CIE

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

803 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5676

Regular Hours

  • Monday to Friday - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

  • Saturday and Sunday - Closed

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