Building on the region’s diverse, world-class economic history.

Providing greater opportunities for local businesses to continue to grow.

Welcome to “Launch.”

Together with area universities, community colleges, and the private sector, the Regional Growth Partnership is building a collaborative effort to create a synergistic environment where technology concepts and the entrepreneurial spirit can thrive.

The main objective of the Launch program is to encourage and assist in technology commercialization and incubation. In order to carry out this initiative, Launch assists technology-based clients in three specific areas: business assistance; business and innovation linkage; and product innovation and commercialization.

Technology-based companies needing basic business assistance, in order to bring commercialization to fruition, can access Launch’s network of seasoned business professionals. This team of professionals is prepared to provide Launch clients with a number of specialized services at little or no cost, including:

Capitalizing on the close partnerships among local organizations, the Regional Growth Partnership serves as the nucleus through which Launch functions. The Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, a lead collaborator, will provide, among its many services, additional entrepreneurial training and assistance to manufacturing or technology-based companies through its Small Business Development Center. In addition, EISC, Inc. has the capacity to provide product innovation as well as research for marketing and business assistance. Other partners in the Launch program include the City of Toledo, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, NORED and SCORE.
Through the business assistance initiative, Launch can also facilitate client-specific mentor relationships, including co-location relationships with other technology-related companies in the area.

Whether it is contacts in academia, private business, or public organizations, Launch has the network in place to move clients in the right direction.

In addition, local universities and community colleges will link on-campus research to innovation, working on technologies that will have an impact on the local region. These institutions include Bowling Green State University, Medical College of Ohio, Owens Community College, and the University of Toledo.
Launch is also committed to linking commercialization and innovation projects among Ohio companies and universities. Toledo and Northwest Ohio higher-education institutions boast nationwide recognition in a variety of technology programs, including thin films and photovoltaics at the University of Toledo, and photochemical sciences at Bowling Green State University, the Medical College of Ohio, and Owens Community College. Clients are sure to find the technical guidance they need. Businesses linking with university researchers may qualify for innovation grants, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, to be matched by private business investment. From an educational perspective, the Launch Network partners university-developed technologies with businesses, for the next steps to commercialization.

Finally, through the Launch Technical Network, businesses needing engineering and technical assistance have the opportunity to connect with Northwest Ohio’s strong base of mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering firms, that can provide engineering and product innovation support, along with prototype assistance.

The RGP, together with its strategic partners, is committed to creating an environment of innovation and commercialization, launching Toledo and Northwest Ohio into the future.