Advanced Manufacturing
A Case Western Reserve–led coalition of more than 70 partners has landed a coveted National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award, unlocking up to $160 million over 10 years to wire AI, automation and robotics into the region’s industrial backbone.
Commentary
Fifteen years ago, Ohio ranked 34th for business competitiveness. Today, it sits at number one. In this OTN op-ed, Patrick Tiberi explores how a unified state strategy reshaped Ohio into a magnet for advanced tech—and why the state must double down on energy and infrastructure to keep its lead.
Startups + VC
Founders, investors, operators and creators converge in Cincinnati July 14–16 for Black Tech Week, with sessions on capital, AI, corporate partnerships and career pathways plus JobsOhio-led programming linking attendees to statewide tech and startup resources.
Artificial Intelligence
AI25, presented by Ohio Tech News and OhioX, recognizes leaders turning artificial intelligence into real-world impact across Ohio — from startups and classrooms to hospitals, public agencies, manufacturing floors, and the capital backing what comes next.
Advanced Manufacturing
Central Ohio is about to build the Air Force’s next generation of semi‑autonomous “robotic wingmen,” as Anduril’s FQ‑44 Fury fighter and Lattice mission autonomy software move from rapid prototyping into full production at the new Arsenal‑1 campus.
Workforce + Education
The Columbus-based R&D organization is awarding $968,000 to 16 Central Ohio nonprofits, expanding STEM programs that will reach more than 14,000 students and 1,400 educators while shifting the focus toward artificial intelligence, aviation, and applied engineering.
Energy
Advanced nuclear’s biggest bottleneck—fuel—may finally be easing as Oklo secures domestic HALEU from Centrus’s Piketon plant to anchor a 1.2 GW campus in Southern Ohio, linking local enrichment, new reactors, and surging AI data center demand in one project.
Startups + VC
With over 12,000 startup jobs created locally in the last five years, Cincinnati is growing fast enough to challenge hubs like Nashville. Now, Cintrifuse is deploying a fresh 30-student cohort to ensure the region's top collegiate tech talent stays and builds in Ohio.
Workforce + Education
Facing a projected shortage of more than 540,000 skilled workers over the next decade, Ohio is launching a $300 million workforce initiative. The program aims to reach roughly 25,000 Ohioans by providing financial incentives for hybrid work-and-education models in critical industries.
Economic Development
Ohio’s booming data center corridor is taking center stage in Columbus, as lawmakers hear how one tech giant’s infrastructure buildout is tied to new jobs, grid capacity, and water restoration projects that aim to benefit communities across the state.
Artificial Intelligence
A new workforce academy will train electricians, plumbers and fiber technicians with stipends, credentials and direct job pathways. The effort targets a growing labor gap as data center expansion accelerates across key states, including Ohio.
Healthcare
A mulit-city expansion marks the regional execution of Hikma’s $1B onshore strategy, positioning the Ohio Discovery Corridor as a primary firewall against critical U.S. drug shortages while reinforcing the Midwest's rise in advanced biopharma manufacturing.