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Dayton given designation of aerospace innovation hub

Action comes as Israeli officials visit Dayton to sign a technology-sharing agreement.

Photos: Technology proclamation made at UD

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 11:35 PM Tuesday, September 8, 2009

DAYTON — Ohio established an economic development precedent Tuesday, Sept. 8, by designating the Dayton region as a hub of aerospace innovation and opportunity.

The state’s announcement came as Israeli business and government representatives visited Dayton to seal long-term plans to work together in aerospace technology research and development, and to refine that R&D for commercial and military markets.

The commitment from officials in the Mediterranean port of Haifa, a technology development center, is in response to the September 2008 visit of local business and government leaders to that Israeli city to initiate the cooperative efforts.

The Israeli delegation is to sign a technology exchange agreement today , Sept. 9, with local counterparts.

Gov. Ted Strickland’s designation of Dayton as an aerospace innovation hub makes it the first such technology hub in the state, although there could be as many as three other such specialty designations statewide by year’s end, he said during a Dayton visit.

The goal is for the state to work with local university, business and government partners to support growth of a region’s expertise to attract business investment and new high-tech jobs, over time.

Local partners, led by the University of Dayton, will be responsible for identifying projects that the state can support to build the Dayton region’s capabilities for aerospace technology and advanced manufacturing materials development, state officials said.

“The University of Dayton will take the lead on that,” Strickland said. “We don’t know what we will be asked to provide resources for.”

The governor declined to be specific about how much money the state could make available to Dayton under the aerospace hub designation.

But, he told reporters: “Trust me, money must follow planning.”

Strickland also directed the Ohio Department of Development to form an advisory group of private and public executives to guide Ohio’s efforts to support aerospace and business aviation development.

The panel is to have its first meeting in 45 days and meet periodically thereafter, he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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