Akron, OH – One million in federal Congressionally Directed Spending for fiscal year 2026 has been secured to support the Polymer Industry Cluster’s (PIC) innovation pilot facility. The federal award was championed by U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, who has been a significant supporter of the work the PIC is doing to innovate and redefine the future of the polymer industry in Northeast Ohio.
“Ohio is leading the revitalization of American manufacturing,” said Senator Moreno. “With this funding and the collaboration between top researchers, engineers, and industry experts, I am confident that Northeast Ohio’s polymer industry – along with the University of Akron’s contributions – will attract talented workers and bolster our economy.”
Funds will support the purchase of polymer processing equipment for the innovation campus, which will include the new facility being built adjacent to the National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC) on The University of Akron campus at the former site of the Lincoln Building.
This investment builds on over $100 million recently awarded to the PIC for the U.S. Sustainable Polymer Tech Hub and Ohio Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, of which $25 million is allocated for the pilot facility.
“We’ve been fortunate to receive strong support from our elected officials for the PIC’s work in recent years, and this latest award led by Senator Moreno further demonstrates the partnership and engagement we’ve established with our congressional delegation,” said Steve Millard, President & CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum and having our federal elected officials supporting us brings much needed funding to our work and fuels our momentum as a region.”
“This investment in polymers honors UA’s industry contributions and opens the door to future innovation,” said R.J. Nemer, President of The University of Akron. “The Polymer Pilot Facility will give researchers, established companies and burgeoning entrepreneurs the space and tools they need to efficiently test ideas, refine processes and bring new technologies to market. We’re grateful to Senator Moreno for championing this funding and for taking the time to understand the impact this facility will have on the area’s workforce and economy. The sustained support of our congressional delegation is integral to regional advancement.”
“This funding represents more than an investment in equipment, it is an investment in the future of our regional innovation ecosystem” said Hans Dorfi, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer of the Polymer Industry Cluster. “The pilot facility is designed to serve as a critical link between research, industry, and commercialization, enabling innovators to move promising technologies closer to market. With support from leaders like Senator Moreno and strong collaboration across industry, academia, and government, we are continuing to build real momentum for Northeast Ohio as a global center for polymer innovation.”
This appropriation complements a previous federal award of approximately $1 million in fiscal year 2024 led by Emilia Sykes to support site preparation. Together, these investments accelerate the region’s polymer innovation strategy and reinforce ongoing momentum through the state-level Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, the U.S. EDA Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, and U.S. EDA Good Jobs Challenge initiatives.
The polymer pilot 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.
Strategically located next to NPIC on The University of Akron campus, this offers unique synergy with the facility’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.