UC’s innovation efforts help attract up to $100 million from Ohio

“It is great to see our Next Lives Here vision truly resonating with thought leaders across Ohio,” said UC President Neville Pinto. “This historic investment in our academic mission only reaffirms the world-class talent and immense promise of our faculty, staff and students. I want to extend a special thanks to my leadership team for partnering with JobsOhio to see this endeavor to success.”  

The initial investment from JobsOhio will be used to accelerate the number of degrees in the STEM fields awarded by UC to 15,000 over the next decade, and the amount of combined executed federal research at UC and Cincinnati Children’s to $2 billion over that same period. 

“These desired outcomes align directly with UC’s mission to serve as Ohio’s premier public, urban research university,” said Kristi A. Nelson, UC provost and chief academic officer. “UC prepares students and graduates to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving world of work better than any other public institution. JobsOhio’s investment only strengthens our efforts focused on theoretically and practically developing the talent pipeline in critical disciplines for Cincinnati, the region, and beyond.”

“Our university’s researchers are taking on and providing solutions to real-world problems, consequently creating more and more opportunities for businesses to partner with us,” added Patrick Limbach, UC vice president for research. “UC’s commitment to research incentivizes top faculty and student talent to come here and stay here. Today’s announcement boosts our already building momentum.”

Future investments from JobsOhio will go toward placemaking initiatives within the Cincinnati Innovation District, which encompasses the innovation assets of UC, Cincinnati Children’s and neighboring research-focused institutions. JobsOhio projects its investments, alongside those made by UC and Cincinnati Children’s, will result in the creation or attraction of 20,000 high-skilled jobs to Cincinnati and an annual economic impact of $3 billion. 

“Our leaders in Columbus have been watching closely as we’ve implemented the university’s innovation agenda, and today’s announcement reinforces what we already knew: Our approach to innovation works,” said David J. Adams, chief innovation officer. “They recognize that UC has drawn up the blueprint for establishing nationally competitive innovation districts. Our efforts will help make Cincinnati — and ultimately all of Ohio — the Midwest’s premier destination for skilled talent and investment.”

In September, Lt. Gov Husted came to Cincinnati to roll out the Ohio IP Promise, establishing a statewide, best-in-class process for how universities cultivate the licensing of intellectual property developed by Ohio’s public universities. The initiative, which aims to strengthen the state’s economy, attract innovative researchers and serve as a magnet for investors and entrepreneurs, was based on UC’s reimagined technology commercialization process.

U.S. News and World Report recently ranked UC as a top public university for cooperative education in the United State and No. 3 overall. UC is regarded by Reuters as one of the world’s top 100 most innovative universities, while Forbes ranks the 1819 Innovation Hub among the top innovation centers in the country. 

• Read complete joint press release from JobsOhio

Featured image at top: UC President Neville Pinto speaks with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted during the March 6 JobsOhio press conference to announce up to $100 million in funding for a new Cincinnati Innovation District. photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative Services