On Thursday, Honda and Ohio State University leaders gathered for a tailgate-style celebration at 99P Labs, Honda's innovation lab near Ohio State's main campus, to mark a quarter of a century of officially working together.
The relationship between the automaker and the university first started in the late 1980s, when Honda bought the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty from the state of Ohio. Around $6 million of the $31 million purchase went toward creating a transportation research endowment for Ohio State's College of Engineering.
In 2000, Honda and Ohio State signed an agreement to formalize their partnership. In the 25 years since that agreement, Honda said it has invested $132 million in programs and research at Ohio State, including supporting 120 scholarships annually and six endowed positions.
"There's nothing like it across the country in terms of the breadth and depth. It's talent, it's research. I mean, we touch hundreds of students each year through this program," said Alissa Comella, OSU's vice president for corporate partnership.
Comella co-directs the Honda-Ohio State Partnership with Meredith Reffey, the department lead of workforce partnerships for Honda.
The two said the partnership has been so successful because it's structured and involves regular meetings between leaders of both organizations.
"This structure also helps us keep the activity nimble, so that we can make adjustments. You know, if we try something and it's not working, we can adjust on the fly," Comella said.
"Communication is really key," Reffey added. "That open dialog of what's working, what's not working, what's needed, making sure that we are staying on track, staying on task."
Earlier this month, Honda announced a $2.6 million investment in a new Honda Research Institute lab on Ohio State's SciTech campus south of Kinnear Road.
Honda and Ohio State are also working together on a battery research and development center, also located at the SciTech campus. That's slated for a grand opening in 2026.
The partnership also led to the creation of the Honda Launchpad Program for undergraduates. Students in the program tour Honda facilities, see product demonstrations, network, attend guest speaker panels and participate in co-ops. More than 200 students are in the program this year. Comella said someday as many as 400 students may participate.
"They really get to know the Honda culture, and I think that's essential, because recruiting is a selection on both ends," Comella said. "Honda has to want the students, but the students also have to really align with the culture at Honda."
Honda reported that it hires 100 to 150 Ohio State students for internships, co-ops and full-time jobs each year.
Reffey said she expects the partnership to last at least another 25 years.
"There's no limitation on our partnership, which is really exciting. I think that there's only growth in the future," Reffey said.
