The City of Dayton publishes a list of more than 100 items for which there were patents held in this area, many that I was not familiar with. Here are a few of them: artificial heart, artificial kidney, assisted service travel terminals, backpack parachute, radar detector, ice cream cone, microfiche, motorized wheelchair, price tag affixing machines, room air conditioner, space food, stepladder, storage battery and the stress test electrode.
Elsewhere in the state, inventors came up with the creativity to get patents for the stethoscope, astronaut’s space suit, the microwave oven, the automatic traffic light, and much more. All of this creativity has resulted in well-known commercial products such as Teflon, the Mr. Coffee maker, Ivory Soap and the first padded bicycle seat (just in time!).
Recently, much of this spirit of innovation has faded from Ohio’s consciousness. This can be blamed on many complex factors, such as the financial incentives for corporations to move their plants overseas, along with the lack of adequate job training for the displaced workers. Many of the older manufacturing plants lay in ruins in many Ohio cities and towns.
Fortunately, business and technology incubators are attempting to bring back some of this commercial creativity. According to Senator Sherrod Brown’s office, there are over 50 business incubators in Ohio.
Here in the Dayton area, The Entrepreneurs Center has provided a space for technology-oriented entrepreneurs to try out new product ideas for more than a decade. The Center provides a free Morning Mentoring program, along with a “Know-How Network” of 150 professional mentors, along with shared office resources to help entrepreneurs get their ideas launched.
Small Business Administration statistics show that nearly 50 percent of new business start-ups fail within the first four years. Companies that participate in business incubator have a much higher success rate, with 85 percent remaining in business five years after completing the incubator program.
The Cincinnati area has HCDC Business Incubation, one of the largest and longest-running incubators in the Midwest. They help entrepreneurs start successful technology-oriented businesses through their business connections, coaching, access to capital, and their low-cost space rental program. More than 300 startup businesses have participated in HCDC’s incubation program including more than 60 current resident businesses.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron is a nonprofit dedicated to the inventions and their inventors since 1973. Besides the Hall of Fame, it also operates a middle school in Akron. The Hall of Fame sponsors educational programs and contests all over the US.
The combination of the legacy of invention along with the thriving business incubators are a hopeful sign for Ohio’s economy and business success throughout the United States.
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