CINCINNATI, Ohio – The University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub is only a few months old. But already, some of southwest Ohio's biggest companies are on board.

  • 8 partners with 2 more expected soon
  • Students can build ideas and present to corporate partnerships
  • Ideas can be cultivated into a startup with professional guidance

Kroger and Proctor & Gamble, along with six other groups are working with students on projects that could disrupt the marketplace.

“If I'm a big corporate partner and I'm looking to expand into a new market but I need the talent to help me do that, we have 46,000 students here at the University of Cincinnati and we are committed to help you find that talent you need,” said Jason Heikenfeld, UC Assistant Vice President Technology Accelerator for Commercialization. “Or, conversely, let's say we have an innovation inside the University of Cincinnati, how do we make that into a big disruptive market changer itself. It's the same thing, we've got to make that connection to talent and resources and that's our entire model that's been built here at the innovation hub.”

The innovation hub's 1819 name is an ode to the founding year for UC. The innovation hub is housed in a 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Sears.

The 1819 Innovation Hub, 2900 Reading Road, is located within the city's innovation district. The hub provides space for students and faculty to collaborate with major industries on projects and find real-world solutions.

“So we bring that talent, that innovation, those new product ideas in through events, workshops, etc. that give you themes, they allow us to polish some things up a little bit, and then as quickly as possible we want to get in front of corporate partners and the outside world.”

Heikenfeld oversees the hub and considers the rapid growth an indication of the need for talent by companies, but also the desire to locate future talent for the workplace.

“I think it's really exciting to see the pent up demand and the willing to roll up sleeves in the region to partner with us to achieve this vision. Again, this is a connecting place and that is only possible through partnerships with the outside world.”

Non-profits are also involved, like Village Life and Live Well Collaborative.

Cincinnati Bell and Cincinnati Financial are also active in the hub.

CincyTech, a startup investor, is also working with students and recently announced it would move from its Over-the-Rhine location to be closed to UC.

Students at the hub can do research, conceive, and build ideas. They have access to software, 3D printers, machinery, and, of course, businesses.