Ohio Awards $8M To 13 Greater Akron Polymer R&D Projects To Advance Sustainable Materials

The Ohio Department of Development’s Innovation Hub program has awarded $6 million in state funding—matched by $2 million from local partners—to support 13 polymer research and development projects tied to the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub. The funding will be distributed over the next four years to accelerate innovation in sustainable polymers, recyclable packaging and biomass-derived chemicals.

Isaiah Kaiser, founder and CEO of Auxilium Health, speaks during a press conference at the Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron on Dec. 9, 2025.

The Greater Akron Chamber, which houses the Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC), helped coordinate the effort. Greater Akron received the official Polymer Innovation Hub designation from the Ohio Department of Development last September, reflecting years of collaboration among universities, manufacturers, suppliers and other ecosystem partners.

Jean-Claude Kihn and Elyse Ball, co-chairs of the Polymer Industry Cluster's Innovation and Commercialization Committee, speak during an event at the Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron on Dec. 9, 2025.

Hans Dorfi, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer, Polymer Industry Cluster: "For us, this innovation is not just a scientific pursuit. It's the economic engine that's going to drive and accelerate activity in the region."

Steve Millard, President & CEO, Greater Akron Chamber: "The Polymer Innovation Hub represents years of engagement across universities, industry partners and the ecosystem — from producers to value-added services and supply chain — to capitalize on more than 100 years of regional expertise and to create what's next in this industry."

The new awards include five newly selected projects plus additional funding for two companies that are part of the inaugural cohort of the Synthe6 Materials Accelerator, a 12-month business accelerator launched by the Greater Akron Chamber and Bounce Innovation Hub.

Hans Dorfi, executive director and chief innovation officer of the Polymer Industry Cluster, speaks during a press conference at the Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron on Dec. 9, 2025.

Projects Selected

Seven recently chosen projects—selected from more than 38 competitive proposals—will receive funding. The five newly funded efforts and their focuses are:

• University of Akron: Develop and scale a platform that couples carbon dioxide with butadiene to produce functional, cost-effective and more sustainable polymers.
• Case Western Reserve University: Advance lightweight composites, protective materials and advanced plastics processing for packaging and other applications.
• Peak Nano: Create biodegradable, multilayer nanolayered polymer films for medical and food packaging applications.
• Promerus: Scale up production of green dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) sourced from renewable biomass.
• Synthomer: Commercialize an additive for polyethylene films that enables lighter, thinner and fully recyclable mono-material packaging.

Auxilium Health and PolyKinetix—members of the inaugural Synthe6 cohort—will also receive additional funding beyond what six other cohort members were awarded from the $6 million state allocation and the $2 million local match.

The funding and coordinated support aim to strengthen Greater Akron’s polymer ecosystem, accelerate commercialization of new materials and processes, and create regional economic impact through new products and supply-chain opportunities.

Attribution: Originally published in the Akron Beacon Journal. Reported by Patrick Williams. Contact: pwilliams@usatodayco.com.