Partners & Collaborators

anchor institutions

Akron has clearly identified the anchor institutions contributing to economic development with the Akron Biomedical Corridor. It's their mighty convergence that's fueling the creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and new business development within our growing biomedical network.

Akron Children's Hospital

Akron Children's Hospital serves more than 600,000 patient visits each year, including infants, children, teens, burn victims of all ages and adults with congenital, genetic and maternal/fetal conditions. It is the largest pediatric healthcare system in Northeast Ohio, operating 2 pediatric hospitals, 17 pediatrician offices, and about 70 pediatric specialty locations across the region. Akron Children's was ranked Best Children's Hospital overall, as well as other special rankings by US News & World Report 2011-12 in the specialties of neonatology and pediatric nephrology, orthopedics and pulmonary medicine.

Akron General Health System

Akron General Health System operates Akron General Medical Center, a designated Level I Trauma Center. Through the efforts of nearly 9,000 employees, medical professionals and volunteers, it serves the healthcare needs of more than 1.2 million people. Akron General has been ranked as "high-performing" in six medical specialties - gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, pulmonology and urology - in U.S. News Media & World Report 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings.

Akron Global Business Accelerator

The Akron Global Business Accelerator has earned an international reputation as a proven small business incubator. As state-of-the-art center serving as a catalyst for driving and developing technology-based entrepreneurial innovation, it also offers a comprehensive package of necessary services to international companies looking to open new markets in North America. The Accelerator has developed strong collaborative relationships with leading technology incubators in Israel and Germany.

Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron

Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) focuses on patient-centered innovation and commercialization at the intersection of biomaterials and medicine. It consists of four interrelated centers designed to accelerate translational research to biomedical commercialization:

• Center for Biomaterials and Medicine
• Medical Device Development Center
• Center for Simulation and Integrated Healthcare Education
• Center for Clinical and Community Health Improvement

Established in Akron, Ohio, ABIA is dedicated to becoming a leader in biomaterial and medical research, education, clinical services and commercialization.

BioEnterprise

BioEnterprise is a business formation, recruitment, and acceleration initiative designed to grow health care companies and commercialize bioscience technologies. Based in Cleveland, BioEnterprise's founders and partners are Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University, Summa Health System and BioInnovation Institute in Akron.

Cascade Capital Corporation

The goal of Cascade Capital Corporation is to provide direct financing assistance to small companies poised to grow through investment in new equipment, facilities and human resources. Over the course of the past five years, Cascade Capital Coporation has approved financing for more than 150 local/regional capital expansion projects totaling in excess of $70 million through a combination of its core SBA 504 & Ohio 166 loan programs and commercial bank financing. These projects are expected to result in the creation of 1,000 new jobs.

Cleveland Plus Business

Cleveland Plus - made up of an 18 counties within Northeast Ohio - is the 12th largest region in the U.S. with more than 4.1 million residents. Cleveland Plus has a genuine character, diverse population, and strong natural assets that create unique opportunities for businesses and residents.

FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy Corp. is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. It's involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services. The company's generation subsidiaries operate 36 power plants with a total system capacity of more than 23,000 megawatts. It serves some 6 million customers.

Glide

The Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE) is a unique public/private partnership (located on the Lorain County Community College Campus) that can help you to grow your business, whether you are at the idea or expansion stage. Services provided by Glide include:business/idea assessments, technology/staffing support, access to legal counsel, educational resources, business management mentoring, access to capital and strategic business guidance.

Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC)

Established to assist companies develop and commercialize solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, GCIC's Commercialization Funding Program supports companies who are developing cardiovascular products or services and who are currently based in Ohio or will establish a base of operations in the state. The program operates on a semi-annual request for proposals basis, and awards fund specific, measurable project development activities that are key to establishing commercial opportunity.

Greater Akron Chamber

The Greater Akron Chamber is an economic development organization serving the counties of Medina, Portage and Summit in Northeast Ohio. Its membership includes a diverse array of businesses, ranging from global manufacturers and educational institutions to local machine shops and non-profit organizations.

JumpStart

JumpStart is a nationally recognized non-profit transforming the economic impact of entrepreneurial ventures and the ecosystems supporting their growth. JumpStart's vision is to increase the economic impact and sustainability of Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial ecosystem, while leveraging our experience and expertise to catalyze entrepreneurship nationally.

JS Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. It believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. While Knight works nationally and internationally, Knight's Communities Program focuses on improving the quality of life in the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers.

Kent State University

Kent State University has active research programs in biology, nursing, liquid crystals and psychology. As the birthplace of liquid crystal displays, the Kent State Liquid Crystal Institute is the world's first research center focused on the basic and applied science of liquid crystals. Disciplines within the LCI provide opportunities for technology transfer in biomedical-related fields.

Medical Mutual

Medical Mutual, a trusted insurer for 75 years, serves more than 1.6 million healthcare customers. Headquartered in downtown Cleveland in the historic Rose Building, Medical Mutual has sales, service, and information technology offices in 12 locations across Ohio, and 2,500 Ohio-based employees who pride themselves on their customer service.

Northeast Ohio Medical University

NEOMED is a vibrant medical university with cutting-edge discovery research and commercialization portfolio. NEOMED and its affiliated hospitals form an academic health center that has a major impact on patient care and supports the exciting biotechnology growth happening in the Greater Akron area.

NEOMED's specialties include skeletal biology, infectious diseases cardiovascular medicine, neuroscience, and clinical outcomes. The NEOMED consortium includes its medical college campus, three state universities, and eight major hospitals in Northeast Ohio. NEOMED offers doctorate degrees in medicine and pharmacy.

In addition, The REDI Zone of the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) facilitates partnerships among the university research enterprise, regional economic development organizations, and the private sector to catalyze the development of biotechnology for the improvement of health worldwide and regional economic prosperity.

State of Ohio

Summa Health System

Summa Health System, which operates Summa Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals, is one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery systems in Ohio. It encompasses a network of hospitals, community health centers, a heath plan, a physician-hospital organization, a multi-specialty physician organization, research, and multiple foundations. It's been ranked "high-performing" in nine specialties (cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology, orthopaedics, pulmonology and urology) in U.S. News & World Report 2011-12 Best Hospitals rankings.

SummaCare

SummaCare is committed to providing customers with comprehensive, community-focused healthcare choices priced to reflect quality, value and service.Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, SummaCare is one of the region's only provider-owned health insurance companies. SummaCare was formed in the early 1990s as a product offering for large, self-funded employers in Akron. Since then, we have grown regionally and nationally to meet the needs of employers of all sizes and individuals including Medicare beneficiaries.

Summit County

Named for being the highest elevation on the Ohio and Erie Canal, Summit County is an urban county located in Ohio with a population of 541,781. Summit County is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The University of Akron

With 24,000 students and approximately 800 full-time faculty, The University of Akron is among the 75 largest public universities. It's the only public university in Ohio to have a science and engineering program - one that's ranked second in the U.S. It's research focus areas include polymer science, polymer engineering, fuel cells and nanotechnology.

The University of Akron's College of Polymer Science and Engineering is ranked second in the nation. It's also home to the National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC), which welcomes academic researchers and industry partners focused on providing solutions to emerging research challenges.

University Park Alliance

University Park is an emerging urban neighborhood in Akron, Ohio where a diverse population actively pursues an eclectic and exciting life of health, education, sustainability, and community. The 50-block neighborhood is strategically located at the center of education, medicine, technology and culture.