This morning Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut announced Ohio’s five Centers of Excellence in Enabling Technologies: Advanced Materials and Sensors.
We are proud to report that The Ohio State University has been named one of the five Centers, specifically a Center of Excellence in Materials, Manufacturing Technologies, and Nanotechnology.
This year-long effort was led by the Office of Research, and many IMR-affiliated faculty members made key contributions to the information provided to the state’s leadership. Last June, the IMR helped the Office of Research compile an extensive collection of data supporting OSU’s bid to be identified as a Center of Excellence in Advanced Materials and Sensors. IMR worked closely with several colleges, departments, research groups and centers on campus to obtain benchmarking information and key metrics, which were then shared with the Office of Research to be included in OSU’s formal proposal.
The vision of the Centers of Excellence is for Ohio universities to be a magnet for talent and a leader in innovation and entrepreneurial activity.
OSU Named Center of Excellence in Enabling Technologies: Advanced Materials and Sensors
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 19, 2010
Governor Announces Ohio’s Centers of Excellence in Enabling Technologies: Advanced Materials and Sensors
Five Centers support state’s work in nanotechnology, polymers, liquid crystals
Akron, OH Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today announced Ohio’s Centers of Excellence in Enabling Technologies: Advanced Materials and Sensors, at The University of Akron’s Goodyear Polymer Center.
The Centers, at five universities throughout the state, are committed to focusing their academic and research activities on advanced materials and sensors technology development to create jobs and strengthen Ohio’s ability to bring innovative technologies to commercialization.
“We are establishing Centers of Excellence to help make Ohio schools the best in the nation at turning research into economic development and new jobs,” Strickland said. “Because we know that the innovative and cutting-edge work of our public and private universities provides a solid foundation on which to strengthen Ohio’s economy.
“Committing resources and research to the development of advanced materials and sensors will allow Ohio to bring cutting-edge technologies to reality and create good jobs for Ohioans in our growing industries,” Strickland said. “I’m proud to announce these Centers today and am excited to see the innovative work they will accomplish in the future.”
The Centers are located at the following universities:
- Case Western Reserve University: The Institute of Advanced Materials at Case
- Kent State University: Liquid Crystal, Bioscience, Nanotechnology
- The Ohio State University: Materials, Manufacturing Technologies, and Nanotechnology
- University of Akron: Globally Distinctive Polymer Sciences and Engineering Applied in Regional Industry Clusters, including the BioInnovation Institute in Akron and its Center of Excellence in Orthopedics
- University of Cincinnati: Nanoscale Sensors
Youngstown State University was also identified as an Emerging Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering, which indicates the university’s significant progress toward becoming a Center of Excellence.
The Centers of Excellence, as outlined in Ohio’s 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education, will position the University System of Ohio to be a magnet for talent and a leader in innovation and entrepreneurial activity. The Centers will accomplish this by developing distinct missions for each institution that are recognized by students, faculty and business leaders, while eliminating unnecessary competition for resources, students and faculty within the state.
”Higher education is continuing to focus its resources on those strengths that can drive economic growth in Ohio,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “The Centers of Excellence in Advanced Materials and Sensors will drive the innovations that will help Ohio companies compete on a global scale and create more jobs.”
Ohio’s strength in the production of iron and steel, polymers, and various chemicals has positioned the state to make scientific and technological breakthroughs in new, advanced materials that are revolutionizing many industrial and consumer products.
From its early roots in tire production and support for the auto industry to supplying today’s growth industries, Ohio continues to be a world leader in the polymer industry. And by focusing their efforts on niche markets in liquid crystal technology, Ohio universities, companies and institutions are developing innovative technology and creating a world-class hub for liquid crystal research and development, as well as commercialization.
The state’s world-class competencies in advanced materials have also been a major focus for investment by Ohio’s Third Frontier program. Whether improving on more mature energy technologies or leading the development of next generation innovations, research and commercialization of advanced materials and sensors is making Ohio a recognized source for alternative and renewable energy solutions.
This Centers of Excellence category focuses on technologies that cross-cut Ohio’s growth industries such as advanced materials and sensors. Four other categories are specific to Ohio’s growth industries – advanced energy, biomedicine and health care, advanced transportation and aerospace, and agriculture, food production and bioproducts. A sixth group is focused on enhancing the quality of life around the state through additional programs that are essential in building communities and attracting the best and brightest to Ohio. There will be additional Centers related to advanced materials and sensors released in the advanced transportation and aerospace category as those centers specifically relate to that industry.
Today marks the fourth Ohio Centers of Excellence announcement. In October 2009, the governor and chancellor announced Ohio’s Centers of Excellence in Advanced Energy at eight of the state’s universities. Ohio’s Centers of Excellence in Biomedicine and Health Care at 14 universities were announced in February. Last month, Governor Strickland and Chancellor Fingerhut announced Ohio’s Center of Excellence in Agriculture, Food Production and Bioproducts at The Ohio State University’s Food Industry Center.
For more information, see:
10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education: http://uso.edu/strategicplan/