The Beta District in Central Ohio is focused on autonomy, electrification and agriculture
Launched in 2021, it is described as an economic development initiative harnessing the region’s strengths in the transportation technology sectors.
Government Technology recently cast its spotlight on a new initiative in Central Ohio that positions the region as a place to foster transportation innovation in areas like autonomy and electrification, particularly as they intersect with agriculture.
“Mobility, and smart mobility, and agriculture are definitely tied together,” said Doug McCollough, the inaugural Executive Director of The Beta District, an area stretching from Columbus through Dublin, Marysville, and Union County. Launched in 2021, the District is described as an economic development initiative that harnesses the region’s strengths in the transportation technology sectors to establish Central Ohio as yet another tech innovation zone.
“We’re trying to stay away from things that other places have greater strengths than us,” said McCollough, outlining The Beta District’s perks, while also distinguishing it from other innovation zones. “When you look at distribution, and agriculture, and energy, and logistics, we are actually the thought leader on that, in the middle of the country. So it makes sense for us to focus on those types of technologies.”
The article notes that each of the various parts of Central Ohio bring a piece of uniqueness to the district, McCollough explained, pointing out Marysville’s long history as a manufacturing location for Honda, and Columbus’ background in smart cities. Dublin is a central player in the Smart Mobility Corridor, a 35-mile stretch of U.S. Route 33 equipped with fiber-optic communications and other technologies to support connected vehicles and next-gen mobility ideas. Dublin brings high-capacity communications fiber and data centers into The Beta District folks.
The full article can be found here.
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