There’s No Place Better than Ohio for Smart Mobility
December 12, 2017
Ohio has the right mix of resources to research, test and, ultimately, bring to market smart mobility technologies
When it comes to smart mobility, no other state can claim the combination of resources that exist in Ohio. We have an unparalleled mix of physical assets, research partners, controlled and open-road test facilities, smart city initiatives and funding opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else.
We have something else, our secret ingredient, if you will: the energy that comes from a growing ecosystem of industry, university, nonprofit and government partners who are willing to share, learn and collaborate to find smart mobility solutions. Together, we’re creating a living lab for autonomous and connected vehicles built on an open platform. The energy this has created is contagious, and as news of our initiatives spreads, more partners join. We invite others to come along for the ride as we make history in Ohio.
If you’re not convinced, just look at the major developments announced in the past year that position the state as one of the U.S. leaders in the area of smart mobility. The Transportation Research Center (TRC) announced a $45 million investment to build a Smart Mobility Advanced Research and Test (SMART) Center. Self-driving trucks traveled along the Ohio Turnpike and the 35-mile stretch of U.S. 33 dubbed the Smart Mobility Corridor. Singularity University launched its “Smart City Accelerator” in Columbus. Most recently, the Ohio Dept. of Transportation launched DriveOhio, a statewide center for smart mobility that will serve as the epicenter for all things autonomous and connected in Ohio.