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State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Albany, announced Tuesday that the state Controlling Board approved funding for Ohio University and the city of Athens for advanced technology projects that will foster job creation and entrepreneurship in the region.

 

“OU and our local high-tech businesses are leading the way when it comes to innovations that will create advanced technology jobs in Southeast Ohio,” Phillips said. “When we continue to foster the link between the high-quality research conducted at our universities and our local entrepreneurs and start-ups, we pave the way for sustainable growth in a developing sector of our local economy.”

 

OU will receive state funding for the purchase of a mass spectrometer, an essential tool for chemical, bio-technology and life sciences research.

 

Through a collaboration between the university, state and with funding from a National Science Foundation grant, the mass spectrometer will increase the breadth and depth of the high-quality scientific research performed at OU.

 

The city of Athens will receive funding to support and develop start-up technology companies in rural Southeast Ohio. The state will invest $75,000 in East Central Ohio Tech Angel Fund II, Inc. which will use the funding to develop their program to accelerate the growth of local start-ups. 

 

The program is focused on start-ups that develop advanced materials, including the fields of agribusiness, medical technology, business and healthcare IT and power management. ECOTAF will provide a $975,000 match to the state’s contribution.