GLENDALE, AZ - August 6, 2007 - Thunderbird School of Global Management is kicking off its second annual Sustainable Innovation Summit which draws top business school students from around the world for a global competition to develop sustainable innovative business solutions for real-world companies.
The Challenge opened for registration and sponsors Aug. 6 and is expected to bring in more than 100 teams from the world's leading business schools to compete for $20,000 and the title of "Global Champions of Sustainable Innovation."

Thunderbird's Sustainable Innovation Summit builds upon the school's curricular efforts in global citizenship, its newly established professional oath of honor for its graduates and its mission to educate global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide.

"The sustainability challenges facing the world today are not going to be solved by traditional approaches to-doing business," says Dr. Gregory Unruh, director of Thunderbird's Lincoln Center for Ethics in International Management. "What's needed is massive business innovation. The best Innovations will be those that align sustainability squarely with business interest. The result is more globally competitive companies and a more healthy and prosperous planet."

The competition begins Oct. 1 with an online round of questions from sponsoring global companies seeking innovative solutions to their every-day business challenges. Ten teams will emerge from the online round as finalists on Oct. 22 and will then travel to Thunderbird's Glendale, Ariz., campus to compete in the final round on Nov. 8-10. The final round will also feature keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops. Questions throughout the competition are posed by leading global companies such as Johnson & Johnson, the Summit's leading sponsor and presenter of the $20,000 top prize. Other registered sponsors thus far include Xerox and Net Impact.

Neil Currie, International Recruiting Manager of Johnson & Johnson said his company had great results with last year's Summit. "Innovative, real-world solutions presented by the student teams at the Summit exceeded our expectations in many ways," he said. "We all gained new insights that will contribute to immediate action in the short term as well as help shape our responses to challenges that corporate and community leaders, including the students who participated, will continue to wrestle with for years to come."

Registrations are presently being accepted for teams, sponsors and judges. Teams can register at www.sustainableinnovation.thunderbird.edu. The cost is $100 per team before Sept. 15 or $150 per team after Sept. 15. The deadline for registration is Sept. 30.

Five Silver-level sponsorships are available at $5,000 each to sponsor keynote speakers, panel discussions and networking events. Three Gold-level sponsorships of $25,000 are available and allow companies to pose questions during the online phase of the competition only. Each will receive more than 30 innovative concept plans pertaining directly to their business challenges. Two Platinum-level sponsors, each contributing $40,000 pose questions during the online and the final rounds of the challenge. These companies will receive more than 30 concept plans in the first round plus the innovative solutions provided by the top 10 teams in the final round. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or a judge please e-mail innovation@thunderbird.edu.

About Thunderbird

Founded in 1946, Thunderbird is the first and oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world's leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Latin America, Asia and Europe, including Russia. Ranked No. 1 in international business by the Financial Times, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive 2006 Business School Survey, Thunderbird is dedicated to educating global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide. The school's programs facilitate the development of the global mindset which is critical to managing effectively in different social, economic and political environments. More than 38,000 students have graduated from Thunderbird, and its alumni live and work in more than 140 countries. For more about Thunderbird, please visit: www.thunderbird.edu.

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Founded in 1946, Thunderbird is the oldest graduate management school focused exclusively on global business. It is regarded as the world's leading institution in the education of global managers and has operations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Russia and Asia. Ranked No. 1 in international business by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and the Financial Times, Thunderbird is unique in that it is dedicated to the task of producing global leaders who contribute to sustainable prosperity worldwide. The schools curriculum is based on the principle that to do business on a global scale, executives must not only know the intricacies of business, but also understand the customs of other countries and be able to communicate with different cultures. More than 38,000 students have graduated from Thunderbird, and its alumni live and work in more than 140 countries.

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