Innovation takes flight in Dayton with Ohio’s newest innovation hub

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, alongside Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, announced this week the launch of the onMain Innovation Hub in Dayton. The onMain Innovation Hub will serve as a center for collaboration among the Dayton region’s government, academia, and private industry leaders.

The innovation hub is supported by $35 million in state funding from the Ohio Innovation Hubs program. According to the State of Ohio’s announcement, the project also includes a local investment match of at least $23 million and a private sector investment of up to $37 million. 

The onMain Innovation Hub will be headquartered at the Digital Transformation Center (DTC), located on the former Montgomery County fairgrounds site near downtown Dayton. The hub aims to revolutionize digital technologies, including in aviation and national defense. Among its primary goals is supporting the U.S. Air Force’s digital transformation, potentially leading to innovations that will impact industries worldwide. onMain is a collaborative venture between the University of Dayton and Premier Health.

"The Miami Valley has always been a place where big ideas take flight, and the unprecedented collaboration that will happen under the umbrella of the onMain Innovation Hub will lead to digital technologies that will impact lives across the world," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "This new collaboration will be transformative for this region, leading to more investments, more jobs, and more of the world's most innovative thinkers calling Dayton home." 

What It Means to Ohio

Ohio's first innovation hub, focused on glass technology in Toledo, was announced last month, marking a series of strategic initiatives under the Ohio Innovation Hubs program aimed at boosting economic development across the state.

The onMain Innovation Hub is expected to create 2,000 new jobs by 2031 and generate over $39 million in additional state and local tax revenue. Moreover, it will drive $500 million in new research funding, positioning Dayton as a key player in the global digital technology arena.

The hub will focus on developing, attracting and retaining a skilled workforce to sustain Dayton's digital technology advancements. It will offer hands-on learning for University of Dayton students, cutting-edge research for faculty, and high-paying careers for graduates. The innovation hub will partner with other universities to create pathways for non-traditional students, expanding the talent pipeline for the Air Force and high-tech Ohio employers.

What They’re Saying

“The Dayton Innovation Hub will pull together the talent, research, and private/public partnerships the region needs to be a world-class leader in digital integration for defense and aerospace.”

- Ohio Lt. Governor Husted

“From the groundbreaking achievements of the Wright Brothers to today's cutting-edge technological advancements, Dayton has a rich legacy of innovation. By investing in this Innovation Hub, the DeWine-Husted Administration will create new opportunities in the areas of research, technology, and manufacturing.” 

- Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development

“We are grateful for the vision and strong support of Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted and for the state’s $35 million investment which will be used both to fund a highly functional building and to help build a digital future for the Dayton area.” 

- President Eric F. Spina, University of Dayton 

“The Dayton region is taking a bold step into tomorrow’s knowledge economy through onMain that will exponentially expand the work already being done in the digital technology area.” 

- Brian Heitkamp, CEO of onMain