Polymer Industry Cluster announces future site of innovation pilot facility

The Polymer Industry Cluster, in partnership with The University of Akron (UA), is excited to announce the selected location for a new facility that will enable researchers, small businesses and established polymer companies to accelerate the production of advanced polymer materials and support go-to-market strategies for these innovators.

The facility will be located adjacent to the National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC) building on The University of Akron campus, currently occupied by the Lincoln Building.

The co-location offers unique synergy with NPIC's polymer science and engineering resources and, provides a central location for the broad base of the region's polymer companies - while situating the facility at the heart of Northeast Ohio's polymer industry.

"This project underscores Akron's position as the hub of polymer innovation," said Hans Dorfi, executive director and chief innovation officer of the Polymer Industry Cluster. "By placing this facility next to NPIC and close by other polymer and engineering labs, we're ensuring that entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry partners have the tools, environment, and support needed to transform new ideas into commercial realities."

"The University of Akron is excited to make room for the polymer facility project," said UA President R.J. Nemer. "As the number one institution in the world for polymer science and plastics engineering, we look forward to working with our Akron area partners to elevate polymer research, expand development and amplify production right here at the UA campus."

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik added, "Locating the Polymer Industry Cluster innovation pilot facility on The University of Akron Campus demonstrates the importance of the University as a force for education and innovation within the pipeline of polymer development from idea to industry. This new addition complements the work of Bounce Innovation Hub, builds a new resource for our industry partners, and highlights the City of Akron as the center of polymer innovation at the state and national level. This new facility will be just a short walk from Akron's Rubber Worker statue in the heart of downtown which illustrates the importance of Akron's rubber past as a foundation for our polymer future."

The new facility will fill a gap in the polymer innovation ecosystem by providing turnkey space for researchers, start-ups and established businesses in the polymer industry to temporarily install processes to make initial scale-up quantities of new materials, bridging the crucial gap between research and real-world applications.

"This facility will represent a transformational step for the polymer industry cluster," said Mark Smale, executive director of advanced polymer science, Bridgestone Americas and co-chair of the Polymer Industry Cluster. "It will attract start-ups seeking to validate new materials, researchers aiming to commercialize discoveries, and established companies looking to innovate without interrupting their current operations."

"This new facility is not just an investment in physical infrastructure. It's an investment in the future of our economy," said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. "By strengthening our position as the global center of polymer innovation, we are attracting new jobs and talent and ensuring that groundbreaking research and manufacturing will continue to thrive right here in our region for generations to come."

Funding for construction of the facility was provided as part of the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub Award from the State of Ohio Department of Development. In September 2024, the PIC became the Ohio Department of Development's third awardee, securing $31.25 million for Innovation Hub initiatives with an additional $10.4 million matched by local partners.

Vacating the Lincoln Building was already a part of the University of Akron's plan to concentrate more full-time staff at the Polsky building in the core of Akron's downtown. The lot remaining is ideally located to create synergies for the industry as part of a polymer innovation campus. Following site preparation and contingent upon state approval, construction of the new polymer innovation facility is tentatively slated to begin in Q2 2026.

For more information on the Polymer Industry Cluster, visit polymerindustrycluster.org.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, [email protected], 330-972-6476

About the Polymer Industry Cluster

The Polymer Industry Cluster initiative was launched in 2021 to conduct a deeper examination of the region's polymer industry and develop a framework to leverage its full potential. Powered by the Greater Akron Chamber, the Polymer Industry Cluster works to elevate Northeast Ohio's polymer industry into a truly dynamic enterprise that is better positioned for strong, sustainable growth in an ever-changing global economy.

About the Greater Akron Chamber

The Greater Akron Chamber is a business membership and economic development organization serving Summit, Medina, and Portage counties. The Greater Akron Chamber drives economic growth and prosperity for the region by supporting the success of the business community and acting as a convener of stakeholders on key issues facing Greater Akron.