For the past few weeks, I have been getting updates and invitations about a grass-roots movement called Dayton’s Innovation Collaborative.

This past Thursday I was able to attend their meeting at c}space in  downtown Dayton, OH.

The goal of the group is to help Dayton attract and foster more creative thinkers and doers, to help build and create new ideas and products here in Dayton. For many years with NCR, Lexis-Nexis, Reynolds & Reynolds, Wright Patterson AFB, and many more, Dayton was a hot-spot for new ideas and products that attracted new business and the cycle perpetuated itself.

Since so many companies have merged with others, or simply left for the coasts, Dayton has been somewhat forgotten. However, it is the group’s belief that there is still plenty of creativity and innovation in Dayton that just needs a place to be fostered. This is where the Innovation Collaborative comes in.

From engineers to artists to advertising creatives, the Innovation Collaborative gathers these individuals to tackle some of the designs and products that do not exist… yet.

The group is small and working to mature, but there are some cool things already going on … And the c}space location downtown on North Jefferson Street is very cool! That location has murals and paintings on almost every wall and is intended to be a hot-spot of creative ideas and growth in Dayton.

Some of the inventors and representatives at the meeting last week included:

• Dayton Patented – Of all the displays, Dayton Patented was the nicest. I spoke to Dayton Patented’s representative who worked for the City of Dayton. Like the Innovation Collaborative, Dayton Patented is focused on the area’s skills and innovation, specifically to create things and patent them! I kept thinking of Charles Kettering, who the city of Kettering is named for. He built the first starter for internal combustion engines here in Dayton. He and John Patterson of NCR and many others were ‘firsts’ in many industries, and were all from our Dayton. Dayton Patented has more information on their site at http://www.cityofdayton.org/departments/pa/Pages/brandcampaign.aspx
• Building Economic Empowerment – This program works with inner-city and third-world countries to use local resources (especially youth) to design, plan, and build modern energy-efficient homes in their local communities. Michael Manuel was the representative I spoke to at the meeting, and they are currently completing a new high-efficiency home here in Dayton. More information for Building Economic Empowerment can be found at http://www.doitwalls.org/
• Grass Armor Grass Guard – This company has created and patented a product that is attached to the bottom of fencelines to stop weeds from growing. Dale Syx is the president and inventor of the Grass Guard, which is a track that is mounted to the bottom of the fence. A plastic enclosure is snapped into the track extending out from the fence just a few inches outwardly, and up just a few inches as well. Their product brochure states that using Grass Guard will eliminate the need to trim and will do away with the need to use harsh chemicals to kill the weeds that grow along fences. More information about Grass Guard can be found at http://www.grassarmor.com/.
• Dayton Diode – A couple of younger entrepreneurs had a robot that was on display. They were working to help establish a “Hackerspace” in Dayton. No, not the scary hackers you worry about on the computer, but a hacker of creativity and fabrication. Ron Love was the gentleman I spoke to, and he is working to find a space in Dayton where engineers of robotic systems on a small scale can work as members to have a space to build, share, create and develop robotic systems here in Dayton. More on Dayton Diode can be found at http://www.daytondiode.com/
• Outrageous River Derby – River Scape and Five Rivers Metro Park are partners with the Innovation Collaborative. They were getting folks to sign up for the Outrageous River Derby coming up in August. This event is free to enter, but only a small number of participants will be allowed to compete (sign up fast). The event challenges contestants to build a device that will float and move across water, that is NOT a boat or made from boat parts. You can learn more about the Metro Parks at http://www.metroparks.org/
• Sleepy Bird – Food, snacks and refreshments were provided by the IC and the band Sleepy Bird was on-hand to provide good live music. The band had a cellist and lead guitarist (who sounded like the Edge from U2), and some good vocals and accompaniment.