The University of Dayton and General Electric Co. Aviation Systems broke ground on a major development partnership on UD's campus Thursday, April 14.

Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE Aviation, led the groundbreaking of the company's $51 million Electrical Power Integrated Systems Research and Development Center. The center is located on River Park Drive, in between South Patterson Boulevard and South Main Street in Dayton, Ohio, according to a GE press release.

"A groundbreaking is both a celebration of [getting] to the point where you can start to see the visual progress, and embarking on something new," said Dr. John Leland, director of the UD Research Institute.

The EPISCENTER will conduct research on aircraft electrical systems, and could possibly influence course curriculum and lead to more job opportunities for UD students, Leland said.

The GE statement said the 120,000 square foot facility, to be constructed by Dayton-based CityWide Development Corp., is expected to be operational by late 2012. GE is in the final stages of developing a long-term lease agreement with UD and CityWide. 

The release said the center's operations will be incorporated with the Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation and Opportunity, a state program dedicated to technological advancement and job creation. 

The Ohio Aerospace Hub is located between UD and Dayton Tech Town, a growing research campus located on Taylor Street, ac on Taylor Street, according to daytontechtown.com. 

"GE's new [research and development] center will be the southern anchor to the Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation and Opportunity," Bolsinger said in the statement. "This location and future facility will help all stakeholders in attracting high caliber engineering talent." 

Dr. Daniel Curran, university president, said he is looking forward to the continued collaboration with GE.

"Without a doubt, it's extraordinary for a Fortune 100 corporation to build a multi-million-dollar research facility on a college campus in today's economic climate," he said in the release. "Our researchers will work side by side with GE scientists and engineers to develop electrical power systems and technologies."

UD's partnership with GE was unveiled in November 2010, and was funded through an Ohio Third Frontier capital grant, the statement said.

GE Aviation Systems encompasses four large groups of businesses worth over $3 billion, according to the release. GE Aviation is a unit of GE that provides jet engines worldwide for commercial and military aircraft, according to GE's announcement.

Leland is thrilled with the importance Bolsinger and GE are placing on the project and the partnership with UD.

"It is the start of a great vision for the university," said Leland.