Sept 26,2006
Toledo Attracts IT Test and Training Facility, Providing Competitive Advantage for Local Businesses
TOLEDO, Ohio – Continuing its effort to transition toward a knowledge-based economy, the Toledo/northwest Ohio region has added a new resource designed to help grow and attract technology-related businesses.
At a press conference this morning, Platform Lab announced its expansion into Toledo, promoting itself as a resource that will provide companies the ability to greatly improve their IT capabilities at a very low cost.
“We are very proud to be in Toledo,” said Steve Gruetter, director of Platform Lab, which was started in Columbus and is funded by the Ohio Department of Development. “We are a resource that will give firms a competitive advantage in the IT sector.”
Platform Lab, which Gruetter describes as a “catalyst for growth,” provides the hardware, software, configuration and bandwidth, on demand, for companies anywhere.
To be located on the UT Health Science campus (formerly the Medical University of Ohio), Platform Lab is a nonprofit information technology test and training facility providing organizations the means to conduct a variety of IT test projects and increase the quality of their applications, organizations and people without investing in expensive short-term assets.
Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, president of the University of Toledo, commented that because information technology continues to transform the world, it is vital that communities take advantage of such opportunities.
“I am tremendously pleased that Platform Lab is located on the UT Health Science campus and I have no doubt this will be a major step forward for northwest Ohio.”
Along with the University of Toledo and the Regional Growth Partnership, Gruetter also recognized the Northwest Ohio Science and Technology Corridor for its efforts in bringing Platform Lab to Toledo. The Corridor works with technology-based companies that might use Platform Lab’s services, assisting in the process toward commercialization.
Local companies Betco, Pilkington and Dana have already committed to utilizing Platform Lab’s services. Platform Lab is expected to be operational within the next two weeks.
The Regional Growth Partnership is a private nonprofit development corporation dedicated to fostering local, national and international economic growth opportunities for Northwest Ohio.