Dayton to Foster New RFID Solutions

The group approached Avery Dennison several years ago, asking for support, says Rick Bauer, the company's global director of RFID program development for retail information services. "Clearly, we could contract with companies," he says, such as entrepreneurs, developing technology at the incubator. In addition, he notes, Avery Dennison could conduct research at the laboratory, "and obviously we would be looking at people [from the incubator] we could hire."

According to Bauer, Avery Dennison—which is not on the board of directors and is not providing any funding—is willing to use the incubator as a resource for acquiring technology and personnel, as well as for meeting with companies that conduct their work at the center. "The idea," he says, "is to get entrepreneurs together in a structured environment, with guidance from the business sector." When it comes to the industry itself, he adds, "Our position is that RFID will become a pervasive technology in the future." Thus far, Bauer says, sales volumes in RFID have not met expectations—in part, because of the technology cost. "Incubators like this can come up with great ideas."

Robert Zielinski, director of commercial marketing at systems integrator CDO Technologies, is a member of the DRCC's board of directors. "RFID has certainly been a staple for CDO," Zielinksi says. "So when the city was looking for opportunities to grow its footprint in RFID, that seemed to be a tremendous opportunity for Dayton, and we will share our marketing opportunities with young companies," such as those that conduct their research at the incubator.

"Certainly, there may be opportunities for technology that CDO may not have the interest in developing but a smaller company might," Zielinski says. "We will try to be a conduit for the market place. During times like these, the pioneering spirit of America jumps into play, and some great technology might come out of that."

Other potential supporters of the Dayton RFID Convergence Center, Kussman says, include Procter & Gamble and Alien Technology.