Governor Announces $11 Million Award to Wright State University
DAYTON, OHIO (October 27, 2003) - Governor Bob Taft today announced that Wright State University will receive an $11 million Third Frontier award to establish the Wright Center of Innovation for Advanced Data Management and Analysis. The project is expected to create 500 jobs in the next three years.
"These projects that are creating jobs, improving the lives of Ohioans and transforming our economy are the heart of my Third Frontier Project," Taft said. "Whether it's using information technology to improve health care or better protect our citizens, the work that's being done through the Third Frontier Project is making a difference."
Data management involves collecting and turning large amounts of data into actionable information and is estimated to be a $50 billion industry. The Center will further the research and commercialization of new technologies advancing the application of data management solutions. Effective solutions for data management will be important to advances in research, clinical medicine, retail, manufacturing, military operations and homeland security.
The event was held at Reynolds & Reynolds, a partner in the project. Other collaborators include Kent State University, The Ohio State University, Ohio Supercomputer Center, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, Wright Brothers Institute, CDO Technologies, Cincinnati Bell, Cincom Systems, CincyTechUSA, EDS, Intelliseek, James Gregory Associates, Lexis-Nexis, NCR, Online Computer Library Center, Procter & Gamble, Science Applications International Corporation, Solve Interactive, Standard Register, and Uniform Code Council.
Taft also presented the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Education and Public Improvement Foundation with a $246,776 award from the Third Frontier Internship Program to create 77 internships and 10 externships for Dayton-area college and vocational students. Major company partners include LexisNexis, NCR, the Radian Group, Reynolds & Reynolds, and the Standard Register. The major higher education partners include Central State University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, and Wright State University.
The Third Frontier Project is Taft's $1.6 billion job creation program to expand Ohio's high-tech research capabilities and promote start-up companies to create high-paying jobs. The final part of the Third Frontier Project, a $500 million bond program up for voter approval in November, would allow the state to allocate $50 million annually over the next 10 years to create new, high-paying jobs for Ohioans and transform Ohio's economy.
