Ohio University helping lead state’s innovation surge as a founding partner of the Ohio Innovation Exchange
Ohio University (OHIO), a founding university partner in the statewide initiative, is helping to advance the state’s business and industry research capabilities while playing a crucial role in driving economic vitality and technological advancement across Ohio.
“OHIO's continued involvement in the Ohio Innovation Exchange highlights not only the University's robust research infrastructure but also its ongoing dedication to driving economic growth and technological advancement through strategic academic-industry partnerships,” said Timothy Cain, project director of OIEx and associate professor in biomedical sciences at Ohio University.
PARTNERING TO CREATE INNOVATION OUTCOMES
Since 2020, OHIO has secured over $1M in three successive rounds of Ohio Third Frontier Research Incentive funding leading the multi-university team of professionals guiding feature enhancements, cultivating broad industry awareness, and expanding the initiative to now include ten featured Ohio universities, according to Cain, who serves as principal investigator.
"The recent designation of OHIO as an R1 university (Carnegie Classification denoting Very High Research Activity), is a meaningful recognition of our discovery ecosystem – our people, resources, and commitment to innovation," said Eric Muth, OHIO's vice president for research and creative activity. "The State’s investment in OIEx is helping connect industry to our university innovators and our peers across Ohio will have a greater economic impact than any individual institution could have alone. I am pleased that OHIO has played such an important leadership role in this statewide collaboration.”
SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS -- TOGETHER
Stacy Strauss, director of the OHIO Innovation Center noted that OIEx partnerships often start with information about potential collaborators that OIEx provides and are a testament to both the University's robust ecosystem of innovation and its critical role in solving real-world problems.
“My team frequently uses the Ohio Innovation Exchange to source research partners and other resources on behalf of our tech startup clients,” Strauss said. “Having a robust platform at the ready is critical to ensure that we – and, by extension, our clients – have a source for connections that benefit commercialization.”
In addition to OIEx, OHIO’s involvement in the Ohio Innovation Fund (OIF) further amplifies its impact on the state’s economy. The OIF connects capital and expertise to emerging companies in Ohio, fostering a vibrant environment for startups and innovation.
As a founding investor in OIF, Ohio University has helped facilitate the growth of businesses that contribute to over $10 billion in market value and serve a diverse range of industries and institutions.
