Innovation Becoming Synonymous With Central Ohio

Source: 10tv.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fueled by foresight, the 315 Research and Technology Corridor is poised to explode in the coming years.
At the center of it all is TechColumbus, an incubator for small companies, 10TV's Jeff Hogan reported.
"We make the improbable possible," said Ted Ford, TechColumbus' chief executive officer.

SPECIAL SECTION:  Central Ohio 2015

Five years ago, TechColumbus was working with just eight people.
"It was doing reasonably well, but it wasn't on steroids," Ford said.  Today we're on steroids."
Ford predicts more development along the 315 Research and Technology Corridor.
In the same building sits BioOhio, a foremost authority in bioscience company recruitment, formation and expansion.  Leaders there believe that Columbus is well-suited to nurture small companies from startup to scientific stardom.
"Those are going to be the Microsofts and the Pfizers and the Genentechs of tomorrow," said Tony Dennis, BioOhio's president.  "We don't know which one it's going to be but we're counting on at least one of two of them."
The odds of success increase because of The Ohio State University, leadership, major university research dollars and a large pool of talent.  Add to that the brains and brawn that it's neighbor across the street, Battelle, is bringing to the technology table.
"We get to do things before anyone else sees them," said Don McConnell, the president of Battelle Energy Technology.  "We're always just a little bit ahead of what you see on the street, in terms of what we're doing in the building."
Battelle's latest venture is a joint effort with American Electric Power.  The goal is to make central Ohio a model for the U.S. about how to implement a smart grid, creating energy surveillance at a distance.
"We can know what's happening with electric power on virtually a real-time basis and make adjustments to improve the reliability, reduce the cost, and use it more efficiently as time goes on," McConnell said.
It will mean no more calls to the power company when events like winter storms knock out electricity, Hogan reported.
"In the future, they'll know as soon as it happens, and they'll know which street addresses, with which lines and where to send people to repair it," McConnell said.
Outside I-270, Dublin is home to companies like Cardinal Health, Ashland and soon IGS Energy.  It is also recognized as a top small city in the U.S. to start a company.
"Whether that's laser technology or a corrosive pipe technology or some sort of (information technology), the next great IT platform being developed," said Dana McDaniel, Dublin's deputy city manager.
Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing Central Ohio 2015 coverage.