THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS TO CREATE A NATIONAL NETWORK OF UNIVERSITIES, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT DERIVE SUFFICIENT BENEFITS TO BE SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY PREPARING STUDENTS TO BECOME BIOECONOMY LEADERS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO ADDRESS COMPLEX ISSUES AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THE NETWORK IN MAKING THESE CAPABILITIES VIABLE. THIS NATIONAL NETWORK, CONSORTIUM FOR ADVANCED BIOECONOMY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION (CABLE), WILL HAVE MEMBERS FROM 20 ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WORKING CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. STUDENT DELEGATES AND FACULTY MENTORS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE BIOECONOMY, RELATED CAREERS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. INDUSTRY WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER, PROVIDING INTERNSHIPS, EXTERNSHIPS, AND PROFESSIONAL INPUT ON CAREER PATHWAYS FOR FUTURE BIOECONOMY LEADERS. SOME HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A STUDENT CONDUCTED "SUSTAINABLE WORLD TOUR", STUDENT SEMINARS AT MEMBER CAMPUSES, "BEST PRACTICES" DOCUMENT OF UNIVERSITY BIOECONOMY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, A JOB FAIR IN ASSOCIATION WITH CONFERENCES HOSTED BY BIOFUELS DIGEST, AND OBIC"CELL TO SELL" &REG; INNOVATION WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS.AS COMPANIES INCREASINGLY UTILIZE BIOBASED FEEDSTOCKS AND TECHNOLOGIES TO SATISFY DEMAND FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS, THE BIOECONOMY WILL NEED ASPIRING LEADERS TO WORK CREATIVELY IN DIVERSE TEAMS TO HELP SHAPE THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW. CABLE WILL SUPPORT UNIVERSITIES BY PREPARING A TRAINED WORKFORCE THAT INCLUDES YOUNG FACULTY MEMBERS, INSPIRING EDUCATORS, SKILLED TECHNICIANS, AND INFORMED PUBLIC OFFICIALS WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITHIN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SETTING.