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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

GE Aviation-University of Cincinnati Creates Research Center In Evendale, Ohio

10/31/2013
GE Aviation, in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati Research Institute, created the GE Aviation Research Center at the company’s world headquarters in Evendale, Ohio.

The Research Center will enable GE Aviation engineers and scientists to collaborate with UCRI faculty members and UC students on the Evendale campus to pursue innovations that have direct application on GE’s future aviation products.

GE Aviation, the Research Center’s sponsor, is investing almost $100 million in capital improvements at the Evendale campus to facilitate research efforts defined by GE and UCRI. In addition, GE committed $6 million over the next three years to fund the six UCRI researchers and 19 UC undergraduate and postgraduate students who will work at the Evendale campus. UCRI has also committed $1 million in funding over the next three years to purchase equipment to support the technology projects.

The scope of this agreement marks a “first” in Ohio between a leading aerospace company and a leading university research institute.” GE officials said.“Our business is growing significantly and we have considerable new technologies that must be developed and industrialized,” said Gary Mercer, Vice President of Engineering at GE Aviation. “We want UC’s best minds to be a part of our journey as we influence the future course of aviation. It is also an important effort to further enhance Ohio’s aerospace capabilities.”

“UCRI supports the collaborative process between industry and the university,” said David Linger, President and CEO of UCRI. “We work closely with GE Aviation to understand its business needs and drive efficient solutions.”

In 2012, the University of Cincinnati received a $5 million “Ohio Third Frontier” grant from the state of Ohio that will be used by UCRI to purchase equipment for the joint GE/UCRI research activities.

GE said its Aviation Research Center further bolsters Ohio’s “I-75 Aerospace Corridor” with its world-class aerospace companies and universities spanning from the Greater Cincinnati area to the Dayton area, including GE, UC, UD, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In addition, GE Aviation funds engine fan and materials research at Ohio State University.

GE Aviation has about 9,000 employees in southwestern Ohio, and supports several thousand more employees from area aerospace companies that do business with GE. GE said it envisions the Research Center as an important pipeline for attracting top engineering talent from UC to GE Aviation.

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