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Akron, Ohio’s Polymer Industry Cluster will receive approximately $51 million in federal funding for sustainable polymers. The award was recommended by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the . The polymer cluster is one of 12 award recipients.

The Polymer Industry Collective in Akron was designated a Tech Hub by the EDA. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

Funds awarded to the Polymer Industry Cluster will be used to advance a hub of innovation, growth and investment focused on sustainable polymers.

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The federal award will be matched with approximately $7 million of partner investment, to bring a total of more than $58 million across seven technology innovation, workforce and cluster coordination projects as a part of the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub’s work. This award follows the Polymer Industry Cluster’s designation by the EDA as the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub and corresponding $400,000 strategy development grant award in October 2023.

Key technology projects funded by this award will focus on 1. commercializing recycling end-of-life tires; 2. the development of sustainable polymer composites via liquid phase mixing; 3. manufacturing of sustainable biobased butadiene for green synthetic rubber; 4. advancing formulation of carbon nanotube-based polymer composites; and 5. the development of safer antidegradants for tires and plastics.

Company leadership for this work will come from a broad group of industry leaders and partners, including Full Circle Technologies, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., BioVerde, Huntsman International, Flexsys, Bridgestone, Continental, Parker Hannifin, Synthomer, Promerus and more.

Funding will also be used to advance workforce development initiatives with educational institutions, including The University of Akron, Kent State University, Case Western Reserve University, Stark State College and Central State University.