Register Today!
Center on Rural Innovation
2025 Conference
How can we shape the future of rural tech economies in the AI era?
When: September 10, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. with reception to follow
Where: MASS MoCA | North Adams, MA
Cost: $50 Early Bird rate, includes lunch and networking reception. Ticket price increases to $100 after July 31.
AI is the most significant technological shift in a generation, and it’s already transforming the economic landscape. Join changemakers, entrepreneurs, and funders shaping the future of rural tech economies in the AI era for a dynamic day to discuss the opportunities and challenges this next wave of technological advancement presents.
Attendees will include a diverse and influential group of leaders from across the country who are driving change in rural America. Leaders from the Rural Innovation Network, as well as entrepreneurs, investors, economic development professionals, government officials, philanthropic organizations, higher education institutions, and nonprofit partners will be represented, coming together to ask: how do we reimagine rural tech ecosystems to ensure that they have the tools, voice, and agency to thrive in the AI era?
Panels include:
- Unleashing Rural Innovation: Collaborators, Champions, and Catalysts
- Fueling Tech Entrepreneurship in Rural America
- Why AI Upskilling is Imperative in Rural America
Stay tuned! Full schedule and speakers to be announced soon.
About North Adams, MA & MASS MoCA
Insert photo credit: Meghan Jones
We will be gathering in North Adams, MA, a city of nearly 13,000 situated in the Berkshire Mountains, approximately an hour from Albany, NY and three hours from Boston. The event will take place at MASS MoCA, one of the largest centers for contemporary art in the world, known for its bold installations, innovative performances, and dynamic community programming. By transforming a former factory complex into a thriving hub for art, culture, and community, MASS MoCA has helped catalyze local investment, attract visitors from around the globe, and demonstrate the powerful role the creative economy can play in rural transformation.
About 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Innovation Center
A Rural Innovation Network member since 2020, 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Innovation Center have been at the forefront of tech-driven economic growth in the region. They’ve supported over 1,500 entrepreneurs, helped secure $10M+ in grant funding, and led bold initiatives like the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 to spur innovation across 32 rural communities.
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Interested in becoming a 2025 conference sponsor
to help foster rural innovation?
Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Contact: Danielle Samalin, Director of Strategic Growth