Cincinnati Insurance Co. is expanding its innovation efforts at the University of Cincinnati, thanks to a $2.5 million R&D center grant from JobsOhio.
The company plans to grow its internal innovation team and further increase its activities at 1819, the flagship building of the growing Cincinnati Innovation District, in order to meet changing needs of insurance agents and their clients, according to a Cincy Inno report.
Liz Engel, staff writer for Cincy Inno and the Cincinnati Business Courier, reports that assistance from JobsOhio will "deepen" Cincinnati Insurance's innovation capability and expand the team that supports innovation across the company, per Wendi Bukowitz, VP and director of strategic innovation for Cincinnati Insurance. Cincinnati Insurance has committed to add eight new positions to its five-person innovation team as a condition of receiving the JobsOhio grant.
"Our plan includes adding more headcount in 2021, working toward completing all eight new hires by Dec. 31, 2024," Cincinnati Insurance Betsy Ertel told Engel. "As our innovation journey continues, we'll continue to add depth and breadth to what we're already doing, while also focusing more on startup partnerships and increasing our involvement within the [insurance technology] and UC innovation ecosystems."
Featured image: The 1819 Innovation Hub. Photo/Greg Glevicky/Office of Innovation
