About the Polymer Industry Cluster

Industry Clusters are groups of firms working collaboratively in the same or related industries, that gain a competitive advantage through scale, local proximity, and interdependence. The result is greater than the sum of its parts, where the result generates new growth that in turn strengthen the cluster further and leads to substantial organic, compound growth.

About the Polymer Industry Cluster

Industry Clusters are groups of firms working collaboratively in the same or related industries, that gain a competitive advantage through scale, local proximity, and interdependence. The result is greater than the sum of its parts, where the result generates new growth that in turn strengthen the cluster further and leads to substantial organic, compound growth.

Our Mission

The Polymer Industry Cluster is a catalyst to infuse opportunities for innovation, expansion, and venture creation.

  • Create collaboration and action on shared polymer industry challenges and opportunities that will grow investment, sales, exports, talent and jobs for Northeast Ohio's polymer industry.

  • Leverage our rich heritage of polymers research, development, manufacturing, and innovation across industry, academia, and user groups to achieve shared goals.

  • Attract businesses and talent to the region, and grow sales, exports, and jobs.

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Purpose

The Polymer Industry Cluster Initiative was launched at the start of 2021 by the Elevate Greater Akron collaborative to conduct a deeper examination of the region’s polymer industry and develop a framework to achieve its full potential. 

Composition

The Polymer Industry Cluster represents a growing coalition of higher-ed and economic development partners, and dozens of companies, suppliers and buyers representing the rubber, plastics, and chemical subsectors of the polymer industry.  

Vision

Be a world-class Polymer Industry Cluster that attracts employers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors with an aim to create new ventures, solve big global problems, and elevate economic growth for Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio.

Scope

The Polymer Industry Cluster partners collaborate on opportunities in: 

  • PIC_research

    Research and Development

  • PIC_startup

    Startup and Entrepreneur Support

  • PIC_workforce

    Workforce and Talent Development

Timeline of Events

Early 2021

Industry leaders and partners came together to form the Polymer Industry Cluster. We understood this effort would require a $200 million investment over a decade to take us from where we are today to where we know we can be: a well-oiled machine of continuous, compound economic growth and game-changing innovation.

2022

The Polymer Industry Cluster established its committee structure for consortium partners to identify priority gaps and design development projects to address those needs.

October 2023

The Greater Akron region was designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Sustainable Polymer Tech Hub of the United States.

January 2024

The Polymer Industry Cluster Leadership Committee was established as a formal governing and decision-making body for the Polymer Industry Cluster. Comprised of over a dozen partners from industry, higher-ed, government, economic development, and philanthrophy, this Leadership Committee ensures that the consortium’s partners are directly engaged in setting direction and priorities for the work.

July 2024

The Polymer Industry Cluster was awarded $51 million in federal funding as part of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Tech Hubs Phase 2 awards, to be matched by $7 million in local investment.

September 2024

The Polymer Industry Cluster was awarded $31.25 million through Ohio’s Innovation Hubs Program to support the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub project, to be matched by $10.4 million in local investment.