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Cincinnati Innovation District Purpose Built

WHAT IS AN INNOVATION DISTRICT?

Innovation districts, according to the Brookings Institution, are located in geographic areas where leading-edge higher education, research institutions and companies cluster to connect with start-ups, business incubators and accelerators. They provide a physically compact, transit accessible and technically wired place for mixed-use housing, office and retail, and a live, work, learn and play environment. Talent – student, research and educational – is attracted to innovation and companies are attracted to locations that have talent.

WHAT IS THE CINCINNATI INNOVATION DISTRICT?

The Cincinnati Innovation District® is a unique and thriving ecosystem that attracts, produces, retains and develops talent by co-locating and collaborating with organizations. The district envelops myriad innovation assets and access to some of the world’s leading academic and research centers, organizations and talent pools.

Powered by the University of Cincinnati, the CID includes the world-renowned Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and other national research centers. The district’s mission is to become a globally recognized talent hub and lead a transformational movement. The combination of industry engagement, unique experiential platforms and accessible research expertise — working at the pace of change — will become a model nationwide.

THE FOUNDATION FOR TRANSFORMATION

Focus on Talent

“In today’s knowledge economy, the economic driver is people.” Talent is at the core of everything that we do – creating it, retaining it and attracting it. The CID’s focus on talent is empowering individuals, organizations and communities to undergo meaningful transformations.

Frictionless Connectivity

Collaboration is key, and we are removing barriers. As the initiative of a public institution, the CID is uniquely capable of bringing businesses, research and talent together to solve the nation’s most challenging problems.

Advisory Council

Formed in 2021, the CID Advisory Council is an assembly of distinguished national business leaders each with a connection to Cincinnati and the state of Ohio. Their focus will be to provide executive-level expertise and guidance to the CID leadership, connect potential opportunities to the district and help demonstrate to the nation and the world Ohio’s commitment to growing, attracting and retaining talent.

  • Jon Husted – 66th Lt. Governor of Ohio having taken office alongside Governor Mike DeWine on January 14, 2019
  • Lori Beer – Global CIO, JPMorgan Chase & Co, member of the company’s Operating Committee and responsible for the firm’s technology systems and infrastructure worldwide
  • Candice Matthews Brackeen – Founder and Executive Director of Lightship Foundation, dedicated to empowering innovative entrepreneurs and ecosystems across the nation
  • Greg Carmichael – Chairman, President and CEO, Fifth Third Bancorp, the ninth-largest U.S.-based consumer bank in the country and recognized as one of the most innovative
  • Phil Castellini – President and COO, Cincinnati Reds responsible for all business and ballpark operations of the organization and actively engaged with civic activities in the community
  • Steve Davis, MD – President and CEO, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the region’s largest hospital system and second largest employer. CCHMC is nationally ranked among the Top 3 children’s hospitals.
  • Andrew Deye –Vice President, Strategy, JobsOhio, oversees strategy, global business development, and research functions for Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation
  • Leigh Fox – President and CEO, altafiber, served in several executive positions during his tenure and has transformed Cincinnati Bell (now altafiber) into a national and international technology company
  • Ryan Hays – Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, University of Cincinnati.
  • Kimm Lauterbach – President and CEO, Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Cincinnati, founding member of REDI’s leadership team who has played a pivotal role in Ohio’s economic development
  • Gary Z. Lindgren – President of the Cincinnati Business Committee, a private organization comprised of the region’s top CEOs whose mission is to improve economic development and education
  • Rodney McMullen – Chairman and CEO, Kroger, helped lead the company to become the largest U.S. supermarket retailer by revenue and one of the world’s largest retailers over his 40+ year tenure with the organization
  • Kirk Perry – President and CEO, IRI, a seasoned consumer products and brand strategist with deep understanding of the global consumer marketplace
  • Neville G. Pinto, PhD – President, University of Cincinnati and Chair of the Uptown Consortium, longtime faculty member, researcher and administrator with more than 30 years of experience in higher education and UC’s 30th president
  • David Taylor – Senior Advisor, Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC., Former Chairman of the Board, Procter & Gamble, driving the transformation of P&G to return the company to sustainable, balanced growth and value creation
  • Mike Venerable – CEO and Partner, CincyTech, an experienced entrepreneur and executive leading one of the Midwest’s most active seed funds and springboard for entrepreneurs

LEARN

How is the CID powered by the University of Cincinnati?

A leading Carnegie level 1 research university, UC has always been committed to innovation. The Office of Innovation, created in 2017, has overall responsibility and accountability for the development of the Cincinnati Innovation District. Multi-million-dollar investments by the university have resulted in the purchase and refurbishment of a 100K SF former Sears building, now the 1819 Innovation Hub, and in the Digital Futures Complex, a 600K SF development scheduled for completion in mid-2022. The 1819 Innovation Hub is already home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and headquarters to two of the region’s most important startup funds. The university is also making significant investments in faculty and administration functions as well as additional real estate placemaking.