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)]
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