State innovation incentive gives Ohio U. research subsidy

Because Ohio University reallocated at least 3 percent of state doctoral subsidies toward research in medical-related areas and alternative energy sources, Ohio's Innovation Incentive Program will award OU more than $250,000 for fiscal year 2007.

The program, introduced in 2006, will distribute nearly $4.7 million in 2007 awards to 10 participating Ohio research universities to refocus doctoral programs, Gov. Bob Taft announced Sept. 22.

Participating universities for fiscal year 2007, which began July 1, must reallocate a minimum of 3 percent of state funding for doctoral enrollments to research areas in which the university has exhibited strength, said Mark Rickel, the governor's press secretary.

OU received about $11.4 million in its 2007 state doctoral subsidy, according to the State Share of Instruction Calculation. OU committed to reallocate a minimum of $251,414 from those funds, according to the governor's news release.

OU committed to reallocate funds to medical-related research, which falls into the nano-biotechnology and the Consortium for Energy, Economy and the Environment (CE3) in its proposal for the program, Associate Provost Michael Mumper said.

Funds from doctoral subsidies, similar to the amount required by the Innovation Incentive program, have been allocated to the nano-biotechnology initiative and CE3 before the Innovation Incentive program was introduced, said OU Provost Kathy Krendl. Funds were not diverted from other areas to meet the reallocation requirements.

The majority of research in nano-biotechnology involves developing treatments and diagnostic agents for medical problems, said Stephen Bergmeier, co-director of the nano-biotechnology initiative. Bergmeier and colleagues started a business based in Athens, Ohio, "Promiliad Biopharma," which will conduct research to develop new drugs, Bergmeier said.

CE3 researches alternative energy sources and water and air quality, said Scott Miller, environmental program manager for CE3. The group released a report in September listing 150 ways Ohio could develop more reliable energy sources. If Ohio accepted the recommendations, many high-paying jobs would be created in the manufacture of technology components to generate alternative energy sources, such as wind turbine components, he said.

The minimum reallocation percentage will increase incrementally by 1.5 percent each year until universities have reallocated at least 15 percent of doctoral funding, said Jamie Abel, spokesman for the Ohio Board of Regents.

If universities meet the minimum reallocation required for the fiscal year, the state meets that with a similar amount in an Innovation Incentive award, Mumper said.

The program is set to reach 15 percent by 2016, Mumper said.

The program, administered by the Ohio Board of Regents, supports the state's Third Frontier project, in which it will allocate $1.6 billion to support research areas where Ohio has a competitive edge, Rickel said. It will lead to economic growth by encouraging the creation of new products, businesses and jobs, he said.

"Innovation is going to be the key to economic growth in the state of Ohio," Rickel said.

(C) 2006 The Post via U-WIRE