97-12-05 Trustees: Approve Science and Technology Campus BOARD APPROVES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (12/5) authorized university administrators to enter into an agreement leading to development of a Science and Technology Campus in the southwest portion of Ohio State's Columbus campus. The Science and Technology Campus is expected to house technology-based companies and businesses producing products and services derived from Ohio State and other local research. "The Science and Technology Campus represents a major investment in great ideas, and in technological advances that can contribute greatly to the education of our students and to the development of new economic opportunities throughout Central Ohio," said Richard Sisson, senior vice president and provost at Ohio State. "Today's action is an important step toward establishing Ohio State as one of the nation's great entrepreneurial universities -- a leader in providing quality undergraduate experiences, expanding opportunities for graduate and scholarly research, and contributing to the social and economic well-being of the community, state and nation." Students stand to gain educational and employment benefits from development of the Science and Technology Campus, said Edward F. Hayes, vice president for research at Ohio State. Nearly one-third of the people employed by new companies will be students, he said. "This enterprise will provide enhanced opportunities for student internships, co-ops and summer employment. Companies located on the Science and Technology Campus will become engaged in collaborative research with the university, allowing graduate students and undergraduates to participate in industry-based research activities on-site," Hayes said. "But the options for student contributions don't stop at science and engineering. Opportunities in marketing, graphic design, communications and more will exist in many of these new companies." A range of economic forces -- especially the rapid growth of small businesses and consistent advances in technological innovation -- makes the timing right for the Science and Technology Campus venture, said David Allen, director of the Office of Technology Transfer. "Entrepreneurs and the fast-growing companies they create are primarily responsible for job growth in today's economy. Employment trends show that future growth in employment in Columbus, as in any other region in the United States, will essentially be due to the people who live in and start companies in the region rather than because of moves or expansions of larger, more established companies," Allen said. He said another trend -- corporate downsizing -- will generate research opportunities with companies seeking access to the research capacity of the university. Allen also noted that companies increasingly are looking for a highly trained and technology-capable work force. "By locating in the Science and Technology Campus, companies will maximize their opportunity to establish relationships with future employees by employing students," he said. Under the plan, the university will lease three land parcels and three buildings for 40 years to the Research Park Corp., a not-for-profit group governed by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from business, the community and the university. The Research Park Corp. will manage development and marketing of the leased properties. The Science and Technology Campus will house companies in existing buildings at 1929 Kenny Road and 1224 and 1275 Kinnear Road. The plan also calls for development of land parcels on the northeast and southeast corners of North Star and Kinnear roads, and on a parcel at the corner of Lane Avenue and Carmack Road. The real estate entities to be developed in the Science and Technology Campus west campus area are: -- Business Technology Center tenant space for start-up companies that need assistance to survive initially, and then to become sustainable businesses; -- Innovation Center space for small but growing tenant companies that operate within specialty and niche markets; -- Science Village multi-tenant space for companies that already have undergone initial growth and need new facilities; and -- "Stand alone" buildings for larger companies that have close links with Ohio State, and for multi-tenant facilities constructed by private developers to meet the space needs of technology-based companies. Edison Welding Institute (EWI) on Lane Avenue illustrates the potential for companies in the Science and Technology Campus. Established in 1984, EWI provides materials joining technology information, technical assistance, contract research, consultancy and training to member companies with more than 3,300 plant locations nationwide. In addition to more than 130 staff members, the company employs Ohio State students and sponsors numerous university-based faculty and student research projects each year. "We think our institute has done a lot to help demonstrate the best practices of interaction with Ohio State," said Karl Graff, executive director of EWI. He said the addition of tenant companies -- especially in related areas of manufacturing -- would promote relationships that offer more services to both EWI members and companies working with campus tenants. The Business Technology Center, an Edison Technology Incubator located at 1275 Kinnear Road, is full at 14 companies, but with an expansion -- part of the development plan -- it will be able to house about 30 companies, said David Cattey, executive director of the center. Of those, he expects approximately six to 10 companies will graduate to the Science Village each year. "The Business Technology Center will be and is a major engine that's going to generate those companies that will be prospective occupants of the Science Village in the Science and Technology Campus," Cattey said. Ohio State has a strong industry-oriented research base from which to launch this plan, said Paul McSweeny, director of the Office of Industrial Outreach. Between 1994 and 1997, industrial support for research at Ohio State increased by 31.5 percent, outpacing growth in federal support, he said. The university received $27 million in research contracts from industry in 1997, or 12.6 percent of the total awards. "That figure continues to grow, which indicates the kind of interactions taking place with this university," McSweeny said. "We expect the Science and Technology Campus will accelerate those kind of relationships." # Contact: David Allen, Technology Transfer, (614) 688-5744 [Submitted by: Von Vargas (vargas.12@osu.edu) Fri, 5 Dec 1997 15:20:14 -0500 (EST)] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.