Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program Gives Students Skills Needed To Succeed in High-Tech Job Market

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs, is the key that opens doors for student interns and research scholars working in jobs of the future.

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The Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program is developing a pool of talented workers for Ohio's businesses, helping to create enriching student work experiences and assist students in obtaining permanent full-time employment in Ohio after graduation. The Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program matches students' specific skills with companies that can use those skills to address immediate business needs.

"Opportunity through investment is helping to create the jobs of the future and a 21st century economy in Ohio," said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Through the Ohio Third Frontier, we are investing in our students, unlocking their potential and providing them with a great hands-on experience that will help them get started on the path to success."

To date, the Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program has placed more than 3,000 interns in nearly 700 Ohio high-tech businesses. One example of a company that is utilizing this opportunity is Kent, Ohio-based AlphaMicron, Inc. Alpha Micron leverages the depth of liquid-crystalline materials expertise that has emerged at Kent State University over the past two decades and has given rise to the Liquid Crystal Display industry.  Using the Third Frontier Internship Program, AlphaMicron has been able to benefit from the knowledge gained by students at Kent State and give them a real world work experience in a growing liquid crystal company.

"For any kind of technology or any kind of industry to evolve the most important part is the human element," said Bahman Taheri, chief executive officer of AlphaMicron. "The Third Frontier Internship Program allows us to bring in people, train personnel, and further Ohio's reputation as the Mecca of liquid crystals around the world."

Additionally, Ohio Third Frontier is responsible for attracting highly qualified research scholars to the state in order to further develop students' skills and power Ohio's economy.

Dr. Hiroshi Yokoyama is just one example of an Ohio research scholar who also was attracted to the state-of-the-art development of liquid crystal technology in Kent, Ohio. Dr. Yokoyama, who is a world expert in liquid crystal physics, now works at the Liquid Crystal Institute & Chemical Physics Program at Kent State University.

"Without Ohio Third Frontier I don't think I would be able to do the research I'm doing now," said Yokoyama. "I'm very sure that Ohio Third Frontier is the main driver for Ohio to become the leader of advanced industries."

Since its inception, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, has created and retained nearly 55,000 direct and indirect jobs, and has helped create $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.  

"Ohio Third Frontier is providing the funding support and development tools to bring new innovation into the marketplace while also creating new business and workforce development opportunities for the State of Ohio," said John Griffin, director of the Ohio Department of Development's Technology and Innovation Division. "The state's culture of collaboration between entrepreneurs, businesses, large companies, and individual workers really makes any ambition achievable."

More information about Ohio Third Frontier's impact on fueling the jobs of the future can be found by viewing the video at http://ohiomeansbusiness.com/newsroom/multimedia-library/video-archive/ohio-third-frontier.php.

Additional information about Ohio Third Frontier can be found at www.OhioThirdFrontier.com.

SOURCE Ohio Third Frontier