Northern Kentucky
Emerging Technology
Commercialization Triangle
Surrounding
Northern Kentucky University
The Northern Kentucky Emerging Technology Commercialization Triangle (NKETCT) leverages the assets of Northern Kentucky University (NKU) to attract currently successful technology-oriented businesses. While other areas of the region have focused on high-tech incubators for start-up companies, NKETCT, bounded by US 27, I-275 and AA Highway, includes privately funded developments focused on recruiting already successful technology companies that have proven their products/research and that need close proximity to a successful regional university to grow their business. This Triangle seeks to attract high tech divisions of major corporations and successfully incubated tech companies to areas near NKU.
Emerging technology industry’s dependency on qualified knowledge-based workers, interchange of ideas with academic scholars, close proximity to state-of-the-art research program, and partnerships with post-secondary institutions for interns makes the area surrounding NKU extremely attractive.
Northern Kentucky University is just minutes from the University of Cincinnati. This proximity provides technology businesses resources of a major research university can complement the research work of NKU’s faculty. In addition, companies can take advantage of NKU’s growing student population and its focus on mathematics, science, information technology and entrepreneurship at both the undergraduate and masters level. Companies can also take advantage of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s recent commitment to a full service community college (KCTCS) in the Northern Kentucky community.
This exceptional development area is just a few exits from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. It is only seven miles, via I-471, from many quality of life features and leisure facilities such as the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, Newport on the Levee, cultural entertainment, and a variety of arts and museum attractions. The project area provides immediate access to I-275 for easy travel to all areas of the region.
Current tech-based businesses within NKETCT include Medical Research Laboratories and General Cable Company, a nationally recognized fiber optics cable company. In addition, Fidelity Investments currently employs over 200 NKU students in their on-campus customer service center and Fifth Third Bank has partnered with NKU to develop an on-campus Entrepreneurship Institute
The Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region has a strong presence of product/service market research firms to support companies such as Ashland, Toyota, Procter & Gamble and Kroger. These firms vary in size and total more than 50. Some of these local firms are considered national and international leaders in the market research industry. Through an existing partnership effort with NKU, these firms can be organized to support the market research needs of tech-based businesses.
The Developments
The City of Highland Heights has developed a comprehensive plan update that focuses its economic development efforts at the entrance to NKU (US 27/Nunn Drive) and at the existing Research Park adjacent to NKU (I-275/3-mile Road). Together these areas provide about 17 acres of strategically located, available land is being privately developed into about 60,000 – 120,000 sq. ft. of space within two new buildings for technology-oriented companies. The City’s plan calls for development of a hotel and conference center at the principal entrance to campus to support these developments.
The cities of Cold Spring & Wilder have expressed interest in similar philosophies of economic development, focusing on professional office/lab buildings in already identified development areas that would cater to high tech companies. City comprehensive plans in the NKETCT development have identified land that has quick access to NKU and that is ideal for technology-based companies. This larger area represents a critical mass of development that will create and foster an important high tech corridor in Northern Kentucky.
To help support the community’s initiative to attract emerging technology businesses, NKU created the Institute for New Economy Technologies (iNET). Through this program, NKU will connect with new economy economic clusters selected as part of Northern Kentucky’s plan so that training provided by NKU aligns favorably with the region’s business and industrial growth areas. Technology training and support in the financial, transportation/logistics, health care, market research, manufacturing management software and other Northern Kentucky economic clusters will be important.
The academic programs would include:
·
Providing
fast-paced, non-traditional format, just-in-time professional certification
training (i.e., hardware or network certification like Microsoft or Cisco) to
enter into, or maintain appropriate educational levels for the area workforce.
This education could be set up to apply directly to a formal degree.
·
Provide
workers an opportunity to obtain formal degrees in non-traditional formats
(short intense courses, evening and weekend offerings, web-based course work,
and support services, available in non-traditional formats).
·
Provide
graduate level programs that follow non-traditional formats for management and
executive level workers.
·
Provide
executive level positions (CFO, CEO) information technology/ knowledge
management training so that they are successful in the new economy.
·
Provide
P-12 teacher education opportunities that offer a highly integrative training
system to bring the region’s teachers up to the technological level necessary
to prepare children to successfully move into higher education and to prepare
them for the new economy of the future.
NKU’s Program of Distinction, as designated by the Commonwealth, is the Center for Integrative Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CINSAM). One of the primary goals of CINSAM is to provide students with opportunities for internships and other experiential learning in area technology companies. Students are being recruited in record numbers in disciplines such as medical technology. A seamless effort, led by NKU, is underway to develop the skill sets of our citizens, beginning in elementary school and continuing through masters and first professional level education. NKU has developed unprecedented cooperative efforts to ensure infusion of math/science and use of information technology and entrepreneurial spirit in the curriculum process so that P-16 students are adequately prepared for the new economy as they enter the workforce. A 172,000 square foot science building opened this summer on NKU’s campus and houses much of CINSAM’s activities. This integrated and comprehensive program will prepare highly-skilled workers to support the anticipated Greater Cincinnati growth in the science-based and knowledge-based economy.
Other NKU innovative programs in support of high
tech companies include:
· The Center for Civic Engagement that will serve to increase the number of community partnerships, creating a conduit for students to actively undertake “real world” activities and research through co-ops and internships.
· The Metropolitan Education and Training Services (METS) unit, designed to provide continuous learning services to tri-state employers, is NKU’s newest workforce training program. METS is in the process of constructing a 50,000 sq. ft. interactive training facility whereby educational services can be delivered to and from around the world in a just-in-time manner. The program is employer driven and is dedicated to providing high-quality, low cost workforce training where and when it is needed.
· The Department of Management and Marketing, Marketing Research Partnership Program (MRP2) between NKU and the regional marketing research industry provides exciting new possibilities. This partnership can be an important resource to emerging technology companies that choose to locate in the development area near the University. Consumer product testing and research could be accomplished through this partnership program.
· The Fifth Third Bank Entrepreneurship Institute at NKU is dedicated to creating value through innovation in organizations of all sizes. The Institute serves entrepreneurially inclined students and the business community by maximizing learning opportunities. A minor in Entrepreneurial Studies and an MBA specialization in Entrepreneurship are offered as a part of this innovative program. The institute provides a high level of engagement with entrepreneurs representing a broad range of industries.
NKU plans to provide space for students to use
state-of-the-art information technology equipment to conduct group or
individual research, fulfill intern work projects on campus and collaborate
with new economy businesses. These labs
will provide another way for students and technology-oriented businesses to
connect to serve the student and business goals. The labs will also allow students to gain experience with
technology that is necessary to be successful in new economy businesses. These labs could also provide high tech
businesses with information technology resources that they may not be able to
afford or obtain within their office.
NewEconomyPlan080602