Communiqué
Ohio University Innovation Center Grabs Ranking as One of the Top in the Nation
By: Tom Hodson
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The Ohio University Innovation Center has received three top national and international rankings during this academic year.
University Business Incubator (UBI) gave the Center a Top University Business Incubator award ranking it #3 in the United States. The Innovation Center had 97 competitors for the ranking.
A second award was given by University Business Incubator Global ranking the Ohio University Innovation Center #8 in all of North America.
UBI says the awards are issued to business incubators that provide “better value for the ecosystem and their startup clients than their regional or global peers. They stand out from average-performing incubators with better outcomes on economy enhancement, access to fund and post-incubation performance indicators.”
The Ohio University Innovation Center during 2013 and 2014 garnered an estimated $10.5 million in labor income and $1.3 million in state and local tax revenues, according to Director Jennifer Simon.
She also says the number of jobs created (directly, indirectly or induced) was 123 in 2013 and 140 in 2014.
The third top ranking was given for excellence to both the Innovation Center and an Athens-based business Ecolibrium Solar by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA).
The Innovation Center was named Rural Incubator of the Year in 2016. Ecolibrium Solar was named Outstanding Incubator Graduate: Hard Science. The company produces ecologically sound and cost-effective products for the solar energy industry.
Director Simon talked to WOUB about the Innovation Center’s success.
Since Simon took over as director in 2009, the Center has grown from 3 clients to 25 companies. The Center has raised over $2 million in grants to expand services and improve facilities.
Innovation Center clients now share nearly $1 million in biotechnology research and development equipment including a biotechnology laboratory, a digital media center and a state-of-the-art 3-D printer.