FAQ

Q. What is the Science and Technology Campus?
A. Developed as a university-affiliated research park, SciTech is an important component of the Greater Columbus economic development infrastructure. It is a fundamental tool for focusing and extracting knowledge-based assets that are created through research in the University, the nearby area, and throughout Greater Columbus. It creates an environment where new and rapidly growing high technology companies can transform knowledge into products, processes and services.

Q. Why is the Science and Technology Campus needed?
A. With an increasingly diverse economic base - and the research capacity, information technologies and educated workforce required to sustain economic growth - central Ohio offers a healthy climate for both today's established businesses and tomorrow's emerging enterprises. Yet, central Ohio's concentration of technology employment is below the national average. Consequently, to ensure continued prosperity into the next century, Greater Columbus must build an innovative human and physical infrastructure capable of responding to the formidable challenges posed by a knowledge-based, technology-driven, fast paced economy.

In recent years, Greater Columbus has made substantial progress toward strengthening its environment for technological innovation: creation of TechColumbus, expansion of the Edison Welding Institute, opening of an office of BioOhio, and increased availability of risk capital from informal and institutional sources. Also, the University has improved access to its expertise and experience with technology, just as it has upgraded its capacity to license technology, broker strategic alliances and create information networks.

Historically, Ohio has been a world leader in applying innovative products and processes to make established businesses and industries more efficient. Yet, Ohio's technology strategy for the next century must become more responsive to one of the essential truths of the past quarter century: Entrepreneurs and the fast growth companies they create are responsible for most of the job growth in today's economy. The winners in the innovation economy of the 21st century will be those who create it, not merely those who marginally improve on the past.

Q. Where is the SciTech Campus located?
A. The SciTech Campus is situated west of Kenny Road and east of North Star Road - bounded on the north by Lane Avenue and along Kinnear Road on the South. This area is physically close to Ohio State's central academic campus area and the research facilities of the University and the Battelle Institute. SciTech’s properties include five existing buildings along the Kinnear road corridor and three very desirable parcels of undeveloped land.

Q. How is the SciTech Campus being developed?
A. The basic design concept for the SciTech campus envisions architecturally unique and functional facilities exhibiting modern materials and design features. Four real estate products - reflecting customer needs of start-up, fledgling companies to large, established businesses - are planned.

Incubator space and business development services for new high potential technology companies, managed by TechColumbus (an independent business incubator located on the SciTech Campus), occupies over 64,000 square feet at 1275 Kinnear Road.   Additional space at this site of approximately 100,000 square feet is being renovated with a completion date in early 2009.

Q. How is the SciTech Campus governed?
A. SciTech has a Board of Directors composed of civic, business, and university leaders that govern the Corporation.