Entrepreneurial support group TiE Minnesota said it will host its first large scale event dedicated to fostering education technology on Wednesday.

The EduTech 2011 Showcase and Forum will bring together 15 education technology companies, investors and educators to discuss the latest trends in the industry. The showcasing companies range from Naiku, which provides an innovative web and mobile testing platform for schools, to Kidblog, a blogging platform for elementary and middle school students.

"TiE Minnesota is looking forward to the connections, the collaboration and the entrepreneurial activity that will grow from this inaugural event for Minnesota," said Lois Josefson, the group's executive director. "Economies the world over will benefit from the education technologies showcased on Oct. 5."

The event will be held on Oct. 5 at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis starting at 8 a.m.