Ohio Third Frontier Supports Breakthroughs in Advanced Materials Industry

Strategic investments made by Ohio Third Frontier have resulted in a thriving advanced materials industry cluster and are leading the way for technological breakthroughs that will help the state compete on a global level.

Ohio Third Frontier's most recent contribution to the advanced materials cluster is a $3 million award to the University of Dayton Research Institute to fund the scale-up and production of a new multifunctional, multitasking nanomaterial. The new material, known as Nano Adaptive Hybrid Fabric (NAHF-X™), is nicknamed "fuzzy fiber" for its multiscale capabilities in electrical and thermal conductivity, chemical sensing and energy storage and conversion.

Researchers at the University of Dayton Research Institute say the material is "game-changing" due to its ability to be produced in customized sizes, much like other fabrics.

In addition to the advanced materials cluster, Ohio Third Frontier has fostered the emergence of new technology clusters across the state, including fuel cells, photovoltaics, and biomedical imaging.

According to the 2009 "Making an Impact" report conducted by SRI, Ohio Third Frontier's strategies for investing in Ohio's high-tech clusters contain all the elements associated with global best practices in technology cluster development, and indicate that these investments are already generating positive economic outcomes for Ohio's economy in terms of growth in technology sector employment, output and wages. Since its inception, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, has created nearly 55,000 direct and indirect jobs and helped create $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.

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Ohio is at the Heart of America’s Polymer Industry

By: Kristi Tanner, Brand Manager, Ohio Business Development Coalition

The polymer industry is no stranger to the state of Ohio. From its early roots in tire production and the auto industry, Ohio has always been at the heart of America's polymer industry. And today, polymers is one of the state's largest industries.

Ohio leads the nation in the production of polymer products, machinery for the polymer industry, motor vehicle components, and more than 100 other industrial products. Employing more than 140,000 workers, the Ohio’s polymer industry generates nearly $50 billion in annual sales revenue and pays its workers $5.6 billion in wages.

More than 200 Ohio companies produce equipment for the polymer industry, including many world leaders, ranging from the global plastics equipment supplier, Milacron, to the specialty inspection equipment manufacturer, Pressco Technology. Another 200 materials suppliers also include many world leaders. Their proximity saves Ohio businesses time and money in the manufacturing process.

And this is just the beginning. The Ohio Third Frontier is catalyzing innovation to transform Ohio’s economy for future generations. The Ohio Third Frontier is a $1.6 billion investment in targeted industries and technologies to help create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. Investments in the polymer industry alone are well over $100 million.

One example of a polymer start-up success supported by the Ohio Third Frontier is Akron Polymer Systems Inc. (APS), a spin-off from the University of Akron, founded in 2002 by two professors, Frank Harris and Stephen Cheng. APS is focused on developing high-performance polymers and advanced materials commonly used in liquid crystal display (LCD) technologies, as well as in aerospace, medical, and fuel cell applications.

Ohio's large concentration of polymer companies has resulted in a number of essential assets already in place for companies joining Ohio's polymer community, including a highly skilled, quality workforce and rapid development of new technologies, as well as valuable industry relationships that promote collaboration in business development.

Ohio polymer companies also benefit from PolymerOhio, an Ohio Edison Technology Center that is focused on enhancing the industry in Ohio one company and one connection at a time. The PolymerOhio team has deep industry expertise across the industry supply chain and a firm grasp of available resources. They provide industry leaders with valuable business connections and industry know-how.

In addition, seven of Ohio's universities have polymer research programs, placing best-of-class research at these emerging businesses’ fingertips. The state also is home to federal research and several private research organizations, including Battelle.

As Ohio continues its focus building up 21st-century industries, the visionary leaders of polymer-related businesses are not only reaping the benefits of the state’s business-friendly environment so that they can achieve business and professional success, but also the ability to achieve their personal aspirations as well.

Why Ohio? Aerospace, Bioscience, Polymers

Over the next three posts you’re going to hear from two members of the Ohio Business Development team about the aerospace, bioscience and polymers industries in Ohio – Marlon Cheatham and Kristi Tanner.

A Cincinnati native, Marlon has held brand management positions at Abbott Nutrition in Columbus, Ohio, and Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. As brand manager for the Ohio Business Development Coalition, Marlon works with the advanced energy, aerospace, automotive, financial & insurance services, logistics and professional services.

Raised in Portsmouth, Ohio, Kristi was the assistant deputy director of the Economic Development Division within the Ohio Department of Development prior to joining the Ohio Business Development Coalition. She works with the agribusiness, bioscience, manufacturing and polymers industries.

Their posts will explore what Ohio has to offer in the aerospace, bioscience and polymers industries. And how, in Ohio, industry leaders are not only reaping professional success, but also experiencing the one-of-a-kind work:life balance that only Ohio can provide.

Educational Investment in Ohio’s Polymer Industry

A world leader in the field of polymers, Ohio's polymer industry is the state's most expansive - and important - economic sector. The state's universities and colleges are stepping up to provide students with essential job skills to continue to allow this vital industry to expand in a 21st century global marketplace.

Through a National Science Foundation grant of nearly $1 million awarded to the Ohio Supercomputer Center, The Ohio State University, the University of Akron and the Ohio Learning Network, new educational opportunities will drive continued innovation in the polymer industry.

PolymerOhio, a networking group committed to the global competitiveness and growth of Ohio's polymer industry, provides programs and services to advance the industry. In collaboration with the grant, PolymerOhio will provide forums for the introduction of cyberinfrastructure resources and workforce training to key leaders of Ohio’s 2,800 polymer firms.

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A Time for Transformation

I've mentioned "green collar" jobs before, but it's worth bringing up again. The idea of an emerging green collar industry is more than just a few startup companies hoping to have an impact on the environment. It truly is a complete transformation from many traditional industry standards.

In order for the green collar industry to thrive, business leaders need more and more qualified workers to fill the jobs that are available today. Workers, even those who have spent decades in more traditional manufacturing jobs, are showing their desire to get hands-on, advanced training in emerging technologies like advanced, renewable energies.

A great example of an organization making huge strides to get this next generation of workers proper training is Hocking College in Southeast Ohio. Hocking College has just created a state-of-the-art Energy Institute where students have a choice of two associate degree programs in advanced energy. One program track focuses on fuel cells and alternative energy, such as solar and wind power, with students trained to construct, install, troubleshoot and test multiple types of alternative energy equipment. The other program concentrates on training technicians for alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, including ones that use fuel cells in their electrical systems.

The 12,000-square-foot Energy Institute is being built across from the Logan-Hocking Industrial Park, about two miles from a key highway linking southeast Ohio to the center of the state. The hope is that an advanced energy training program nearby will draw alternative energy companies to the industrial park.

This program has already caught the attention of advanced energy companies. NexTech Materials Ltd., a Lewis Center-based developer and maker of components for fuel cells and sensors for fuel processing systems, has already hired eight graduates of Hocking College's advanced energy program.

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