The Commons

Innovation Accelerator Program

Want access to motivated talent, innovative ideas, developing your leaders and/or improving our regional ecosystem?  Get your company involved in The Commons Program. Find out how to be involved. One-page overview.

What happens?

Motivated students from Northeast Ohio universities work in cross-functional teams with the support of mentors on innovation projects with companies like Akron Children’s Hospital, Consolidus, FinMango, FirstEnergy, Goodyear, Moen, The J.M. Smucker Company, The Timken Company and more.  Participating companies provide guidance on innovation challenges and can participate on multiple levels to guide their team’s work.  In the end, students present their findings – offering a fresh perspective to how each company approaches its innovation challenges while forging new relationships with area talent. Help build a community of around innovation!

Contact Chris@edgeneo.org.

Why should companies participate in The Commons?

1. Access to young, motivated and diverse talent from many area universities that are interested in innovation;
2. The opportunity for emerging leaders within companies to work with students and develop supervisory skills;
3. The opportunity to position the company as an innovative company, which is helpful in attracting and retaining local talent;
4. Have an impact on the Northeast Ohio community.

What is The Commons Innovation Accelerator Program?

The Commons Program is a collaboration between area universities, innovative businesses and the region’s entrepreneurs and is designed to attract, develop, and retain the most talented and motivated minds by blending corporate innovation with mentoring professionals to give students a truly unique, real-world experience. And the program works with the most motivated undergraduate students of ANY major and ANY year in school.

In 2019 and 2020, three pilot programs engaged students, companies and mentors who wrestled with different innovation challenges: “How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) impact customer engagement?”, “How may the Internet of Things (IoT) impact how you serve your customers?” or even “Mapping Your Customer’s Experience and How to Create Peak Moments.”  The results … Great ideas, great engagement and great energy!