University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business Launches New Web Resource for Insurance Technology Industry

COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business today announced that it has launched a new website that will serve as a portal for innovation in the insurance industry.

The site, called i3 (http://www.innovationininsurance.com) is operated as a small business enterprise by Moore School students who are interested in insurance and technology.  The site focuses specifically on issues related to technology innovation in the insurance business process -- from the time the policy is sold until the claim is paid and the policy has expired.

"Insurance is perhaps the most data and process-driven service business in the world," said Jeff Thompson, i3's managing director and adjunct faculty member for insurance at the Moore School.  "This new web portal provides everyone in the industry -- particularly insurance technology professionals -- the critical access to information about innovative developments in the industry."

The new site features a simple design, is rich in content, and includes sections on:

• News about mergers, acquisitions, major investments and major industry developments
• Vendor and company announcements, including new products, personnel, etc.
• Insurance technology industry events
• A comprehensive directory of insurance technology vendors

As a new venture, i3 has recruited an impressive Board of Directors and Board of Advisors (http://www.innovationininsurance.com/AboutUs/tabid/57/Default.aspx), made up of some of the leading executives and academics in the industry, to guide the content and research direction of the program.

"From an educational perspective, this initiative provides a tremendous opportunity for our students to interact with key executives in the insurance industry and gain direct, hands-on experience in running a small enterprise," says Moore School Deputy Dean Scott Koerwer.  

The Moore School is known for its strong academic reputation in insurance -- ranking among the top ten in the country among business school insurance programs in U.S. News & World Report.  The School also receives strong business support in the community with various benefactors providing for approximately 25 scholarships for undergraduate business students in insurance and risk management.

Columbia, SC has long been a central hub for the insurance technology industry with more than 30 companies represented in the area.  The city and surrounding region are home to such insurance technology notables as Eagle Eye Analytics; AcroSoft Corp.; AIG Technology; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of SC (a major insurance technology firm for Blues organizations nationwide); CSC; Duck Creek; Group1; SpeedBuilder Systems; StoneRiver; TM Floyd & Company; Trumbull Services; AQS; CGI; Innovation Group; and DocuCorp/Skywire.

Industry leaders believe the Columbia area is ripe for further investment by insurance technology firms in the area.  "Columbia has a strong reputation in the insurance technology industry," said Eddie Jones, Senior Vice President of Marketing for StoneRiver, and co-chair of i3's Board of Directors.  "By successfully partnering with the University of South Carolina and by developing new talent in the industry, we believe we can further enhance Columbia's already strong reputation with the aim of attracting future investment in the Midlands."  

"The new portal is located in cyberspace, but with our editorial team located in Columbia, we can draw on all of the insurance technology expertise and worldwide resources to publish the most innovative information available to the industry in real time," said Ernie Csiszar, Executive Director and Co-Chair of i3.

About i3

The purpose of www.InnovationInInsurance.com is to foster innovation in the way insurance is practiced by providing a portal to all online resources helpful to insurance technology, services, and outsourcing.

About the Moore School

The Moore School of Business is among the highest-ranked business schools in the world for international business education and research. Founded in 1919, the school has a history of innovative educational leadership, blending academic preparation with real-world experience through internships, consulting projects, study-abroad programs, and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Moore School offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as distinctive executive education programs. In 1998, the school was named for South Carolina native and New York financier Darla Moore, making the University of South Carolina the first major university to name its business school after a woman.  For more information, visit http://www.moore.sc.edu.

SOURCE The Moore School of Business