1819 Innovation Hub lease gives Kroger access to UC students, faculty
University of Cincinnati’s innovation agenda attracts country’s largest grocer
Customers won’t be able to stock up on groceries at Kroger’s newest Cincinnati location. Instead, it’ll be Kroger that will be able to shop for University of Cincinnati talent and opportunities for innovative collaborations.
Kroger announced Wednesday, Aug. 29, that it has leased a 2,500-square-foot space in the UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub. The space will give Kroger a dedicated area in which it can collaborate with UC co-op students, student interns, and faculty members on improvements to technologies developed by the supermarket giant, as well as new innovations.
“Whether it’s raw innovation or enhancing our current products, either way it’s a win,” Chris Hjelm, Kroger executive vice president and chief information officer, told the Cincinnati Business Courier. Hjelm said Kroger’s plans for the space include work on machine learning and artificial intelligence.
“It’s really a creative partnership to understand Kroger’s needs and find students and faculty to help them solve their needs,” UC Chief Innovation Officer David J. Adams said. “It’s a great testament to the work we’re striving to achieve: how to use the strength of UC to fuel and power local businesses.”
The build-out of Kroger’s third-floor space in the 1819 Innovation Hub is underway, and is set to be ready sometime in October.
Featured image at top: The 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Jay Yocis/UC Creative Services
Read complete story in the Cincinnati Business Courier (full content exists behind a paywall).
Innovate with industry
The University of Cincinnati is the birthplace of experiential learning. UC's 1819 Innovation Hub takes that to a new level by providing students a place where they can interact and innovate with Cincinnati's vibrant business community. Learn how you or your student can become a part of UC's innovative vision for the future.
Related Stories
Make Hoxworth Blood Center’s special holiday events part of your family celebrations this December
December 12, 2025
This December, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is inviting families across Greater Cincinnati to add something truly meaningful to their holiday traditions: giving the gift of life. With festive community events, beloved local partners and special thank-you gifts for donors, Hoxworth is making it easier, and more heartwarming than ever, to roll up your sleeves and help save lives close to home.
New combination treatment improves multiple myeloma outcomes
December 11, 2025
The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center's Ed Faber, DO, provided commentary to Medscape on the COBRA study that found the combination of carfilzomib combined with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd) shows significantly greater efficacy than the previous standard of care.
'Sound bulb' research by UC Blue Ash team featured as editor’s pick
December 10, 2025
A research paper on new technology being developed by a professor and students at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is being highlighted as the editor’s pick in a prominent physics journal.
Holiday of kindness: UC grads’ children’s books will support kids in need
December 10, 2025
Vic and Laura Fahrner Troha, University of Cincinnati graduates, have written two children’s books together. They are donating all proceeds from book sales to purchase Christmas gifts for children served by Hamilton County Job and Family Services.
BearcatGPT AI platform now available to all UC faculty and staff
December 9, 2025
University of Cincinnati Digital Technology Solutions is excited to announce that BearcatGPT, the university’s private, secure AI platform, is now available to all UC faculty and staff.
Handling the hassles of holiday shopping
December 9, 2025
U.S. delivery companies are seeing a projected 5 percent increase in volume this year, according to reporting by WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition. Lindner College of Business professor Sachin Modi joined the discussion to explain the impact of shipping delays.