Biomedical : Featured Stories

After decades of cutting-edge research in neurostimulation therapy, Ohio's biomed industry is welcoming a variety of new companies and innovative devices. Relief for patients isn't far behind.

As the founders of Ecolibrium Solar, Coupsmart and other startups can attest, pre-seed funding is helping Ohio companies find their footing when their founders don’t have the financial resources to get started on their own.

The Austen Bioinnovation Institute in Akron harnesses some of the region's core strengths -- namely polymer science, orthopedics, wound healing processes and musculoskeletal studies -- to advance its status as a health care innovator.

It's never been easier to validate an idea and launch a new company. Yet access to capital remains a critical issue for entrepreneurs. The upcoming National Association of Seed and Venture Funds Conference, to be held in Cleveland from October 15th-17th, will bring together a community of aspiring entrepeneurs and investors to explore ways to advance innovation capital.

New biomedical companies are a source of growth in Ohio's high tech economy, yet currently, only a fraction of them are helmed by African-American and Latino entrepreneurs. The first ever Minority Biomedical Entrepreneurship Conference aims to connect minorities in Ohio to greater opportunities while also growing the state's biomedical workforce.

Earlier this year, construction began for the new Medical Mart and Convention Center, a project that has received a lukewarm response from skeptical taxpayers. Working hard to prove them wrong is Tony Prusak, who as Director of Convention Sales is tasked with booking events. As a lifelong Clevelander, Prusak is driven by a desire to improve Cleveland's economic future. How? By "selling more cheeseburgers."

Lester A. Lefton became Kent State University's 11th president in July 2006. Ranked by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching among the nation's best public research universities and among the best colleges and universities in community engagement, Kent State has been at the forefront of high-tech innovation in Northeast Ohio. hiVelocity asked Lefton about Kent State's role in Ohio's new economy and his vision for the region.