Ohio is graphing a new line in the innovation curve by launching its third state-backed Innovation Hub in the Greater Akron area. Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik revealed plans for the new Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, a move aimed at forging Ohio's future as a powerhouse in polymer science. According to an announcement on the governor's official website, the state will inject $31.25 million into the enterprise, with an additional $10 million surfacing from local coffers.
"Akron's history in polymer innovation goes back more than 100 years, and now, the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub will lead this industry into the future, bringing tremendous economic growth to the area, thousands of jobs, and millions in new revenue and investments," Governor DeWine stated, as highlighted in the announcement. This hub intends to significantly bolster Ohio's footprints in emerging sectors such as semiconductor and battery manufacturing, both intimately woven with polymer technology.
Over 70 partner agencies make up the collaborative bedrock of the Hub, including key players like the Greater Akron Chamber, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and the University of Akron. The core of this initiative is the Polymer Pilot Plant, a facility dedicated to advancing polymer applications across vital industries, including healthcare, mobility, and energy. This commitment is poised to leverage Akron's deep-seated expertise and track record in the polymer realm and shape it into a narrative of jobs, innovation, and sustained economic vitality.
The echoes of this move are expected to reverberate well into the next decade, with project partners projecting the creation of around 2,400 new jobs and an infusion of $75 million in research funding by 2031, as per the announcement. There is a deliberate push to perpetually upskill the current workforce and fully magnetize young scientists and engineers towards a region now ambitiously positioning itself to become a global center for polymer wizardry. Lt. Governor Husted stressed the importance of Akron's leadership in polymer R&D, underlining that "Leadership in polymer R&D allows companies to create new and improved materials with better properties such as strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability, making Akron the place to be for companies that need access to these innovations." stated by Governor DeWine.
The Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub represents more than just an economic stimulus, it is a catalyst for knowledge, for turning the underemployed into the highly skilled, and for innovation that sits snug in the crevices of practicality and changes lives tangibly. The initiative banks heavily on driving support for small businesses venturing into new polymer applications, thus enshrining a future where research and commerce speak a standard dialect of growth and opportunity in the heart of Ohio.
