The longest running, most diverse university-based economic development organization in the U.S., the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) launched its founding program more than 60 years ago. Since then, it has expanded to serve enterprises of all sizes, from pre-company teams and startups to long-running businesses, as well as communities seeking to revitalize their local economies.
Though the Enterprise 6 Internship Program, USG undergraduate and graduate students across a range of disciplines discover how the skills they’ve been cultivating in classrooms and labs can play a role in economic development. The program is made possible by funding from Georgia Tech’s Office of the Executive Vice President for Research.
Although the internship doesn’t accrue academic credit, students receive $25 an hour for a 20-hour work week. Each intern is mentored by an EI2 research faculty member, and biweekly remote meetings enable participants to share observations about their experience.
“The Enterprise Innovation Institute engages in meaningful work to expand economic opportunity for all, and the E6 program provides students the opportunity to work on real-world challenges supporting the equitable development and deployment of talent and innovation, both locally and globally,” said David Bridges, the Enterprise Innovation Institute’s vice president.
“In some cases, E6 interns are so inspired by this experience that they change the trajectory of their ambitions.”
Take, for example, Eve Pike, who at the time of her 2021 internship was a student in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. Working with Enterprise 6 gave her a new set of reference points, and Pike realized she wanted to pursue a career in tech — and possibly even expand into marketing or economics. “It broadened my horizon,” she said.
Hanyu Lu found that her experience as an Enterprise 6 intern in 2023 “significantly enhanced my skills in analysis and development.” After E6,…
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