Dandelions, Lubricants and Fuel Cells

So what exactly does the future of Northeast Ohio's economy look like?

Well, based on a latest round of grants from the state's Third Frontier program it has a lot to do with exotic materials, dandelions, liquid crystals and fuel cells. Those aren't items one usually associates with Ohio's business community, but the state is investing tens of millions of dollars that we should, and it is investing in a handful of exciting collaborations that promise a strong future for our region.

"These projects demonstrate the teamwork between our educational institutions and private companies that is so critical to ensuring a solid foundation for our growing industries,” said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Strengthening the links among education, research, and economic development is not only our mission but our obligation in making sure we attract and retain jobs of the future.  You can read more about the grants here and here.

Receiving grants were:

The Ohio State University Research Foundation, in collaboration with Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center’s BioProducts Innovation Center, Delta Plant Technologies, University of Akron, Bridgestone Americas Center for Technology and Research, and Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, was recommended for $3 million in funding to develop a domestic source of natural rubber and a new industry for Ohio and the United States. The goal of the proposed project is to establish the processing capability to produce volume quantities of taraxacum koksaghyz (TKS, or “Russian dandelion”) rubber for product validation and qualification by industrial users for a range of applications but with a primary focus on the tire industry.

Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with 15 other companies and organizations, was recommended for $3 million in funding to create the new Case Center for Surface Engineering. The project will promote commercialization of a variety of industrial products through surface engineering enabled by state-of-the-art instruments for surface imaging and materials analysis. The facility will support numerous company projects including Lubrizol’s development of new lubricants for aluminum engines.

Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, in collaboration with Pathogen Systems, Inc. and Kent State University, was recommended for $3 million in funding for the Ohio-based research and commercialization of a real-time pathogen detection instrument. Pathogen Systems Inc. has developed a liquid crystal-based antibody system for detecting common pathogens in water samples in as little as 30 minutes. This new technology is designed to replace standard microbiological testing which requires incubation periods of up to 24 hours. The product is also being adapted for pathogen testing for the military and homeland security and for the food industry.
Stark State College of Technology, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (US), Inc., and Contained Energy, Inc. was recommended for $3 million in funding for the expansion of industry and education partnerships for fuel cell commercialization, specifically to permit commercial scale testing of critical Rolls-Royce subassemblies and development of new products for Contained Energy. This expansion represents the second phase of a multi-phase strategy for economic development in the area of fuel cell technology. In addition to company attraction, the funding will allow Stark State to expand its educational offerings and training related to fuel cells.

Youngstown State University, located in Youngstown (Mahoning County) and in collaboration with Fireline TCON, Inc., and the Ohio Supercomputer Center, was recommended for just more than $2.1 million in funding for a Center for Excellence in Advanced Materials Analyses. The project will focus on research, analyses, modeling and commercialization of products with increased resistance to thermal shock and lower thermal conductivity to improve liquid aluminum-resistant refractory materials for use during molten metal handling, melt treatment and casting. A specific use of the new facility will be by TCON, Inc. to develop new refractory materials for the processing of liquid aluminum. Additional applications include light-weight vehicle braking systems and conformal body armor to cover unprotected body areas of soldiers.

AlphaMicron, Inc. of Kent and in collaboration with NASA Glenn Research Center, Kent State University, and Sekisui Chemical Co. was recommended for $5 million in funding to move its Adaptive Windows technology from demonstration to the market entry phase of technology commercialization. The company specializes in liquid crystal applications for electronically controllable eyewear, and the specific project is to create a window that has a self-regulating and powered electronically controllable tint.

reXorce Thermionics, Inc., of Akron (Summit County) and in collaboration with Parker Hannifin Corp., Case Western Reserve University, University of Akron, Carbide Derivative Technologies, Inc., and Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. was recommended for $4.3 million in funding to develop technology that can capture waste heat and convert it into usable electricity. Most of the world's electrical power is generated by heat engines that convert heat into mechanical energy, which is then converted into electricity. Approximately 15 trillion watts of energy is not converted, but is instead released into the environment as waste heat. The project aims to convert some of this lost heat to electricity.