In order to shift the focus from “Designed in California” to “Made by California,” this summer a group of selected undergraduate and graduate students will cross the people and stories of California’s manufacturers to discover the value creation happening in a land where anything is possible.

Globally recognized as a digital tech outpost, California is also the state responsible for the largest manufacturing output in the US. Today, it’s experiencing an artisanal manufacturing renaissance in sectors like food, wine, textile and industrial design. As people in the Golden State turn their attention to these highly specialized industries, they are revolutionizing them by bringing the same progressive spirit that they brought to tech.

The California Innovation Program is a fully-immersive learning experience that will offer an unprecedented exploration into this phenomena occurring in the world’s fifth largest economy. To investigate how exposure to this dynamic environment drives businesses to push the boundaries of traditional manufacturing, participants will meet with the land’s manufacturing entrepreneurs—leaders of Made by California who dare to construct new possibilities for industries. They will also take a behind-the-scenes look at manufacturing processes to get deeper industry knowledge.

During the three weeks, world-class thought leaders and business veterans will lead conversations to build insights about the opportunity spaces for Made by California companies. After absorbing California’s forward-thinking approach to the industrial economy, participants will participate in strategic design activities to discover areas of creative intervention where we might produce a positive impact on the global manufacturing landscape.