Vol. 38, No. 18

1-31-2007
By:

Holbrook receives tech leadership award

TechColumbus honors her for contributions to technology

Citing her leadership and contributions to the region’s top technology and research organizations, President Karen Holbrook received the first TechColumbus President’s Award Jan. 18 at the annual TopCAT award ceremony.

Though TopCAT has recognized technology leaders in the community since 1999, Holbrook’s award is the first of its kind, said Rich Rosen, vice president of Battelle’s external business relations, who presented Holbrook with her award.

During Holbrook’s tenure, university research expenditures have risen to more than $650 million in 2006. Ohio State also has moved to ninth place among public research universities in research expenditures and sixth in the country among all universities in industry-sponsored research. For three consecutive years (2003-05), Ohio State led the country in the number of faculty named “fellows” of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was second only to the University of California at Riverside in 2006.

Through her vision, leadership, international prestige and ongoing engagement, Holbrook has established a strong environment for research and technology, Rosen said.

“President Holbrook has brought the full power of her office to support the advancement of the technology-based economy in central Ohio,” Rosen said. “But she has brought more than just advocacy — her personal energy and involvement have been a constant force.”

As a founding board member of TechColumbus, Holbrook has played a pivotal role in establishing the organization in the community and promoting a culture of collaboration.

Evidence of Holbrook’s efforts to connect, promote and advocate for research and tech-based economic development can be seen in the classrooms of the Metro School, in the halls of TechColumbus Center and in the more than 330,000 square feet of assignable research space that has become available at Ohio State in the past four years, said Jay Jordan, chair of the TechColumbus Board of Directors.

“Dr. Holbrook has worked tirelessly to foster stronger, more collaborative relationships among and between the various technology enterprises in central Ohio,” Jordan said. “We have all benefited greatly from her vision, her wisdom and her leadership.”

TechColumbus, which was formed through the merger of the Columbus Technology Council and the Business Technology Center, is a membership-led nonprofit organization of technology-based companies in central Ohio. Its mission is to encourage and foster the formation and growth of technology-based companies and to facilitate effective use of technology to strengthen the region’s economy.

The university’s Science and Technology Campus Corp. is a closely linked partner operating under the TechColumbus umbrella.

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