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.
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