Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub to Recieve $51 Million in Federal Funding
Polymer industry cluster gets support for sustainability innovation.
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 CHIPS and Science Act. The polymer cluster is one of 12 award recipients.
![EDA Tech Hubs Logo](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/PT/2024-PT/0924-pt-techhubakron.png;maxWidth=720)
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.
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.
Related Content
-
Foam-Core Multilayer Blow Molding: How It’s Done
Learn here how to take advantage of new lightweighting and recycle utilization opportunities in consumer packaging, thanks to a collaboration of leaders in microcellular foaming and multilayer head design.
-
How to Optimize Color Evaluation of Recycled Plastics
The right color measurement instrument and good working methods will minimize variability in color evaluation of PCR.
-
NPE2024 Wrap-Up: Sustainability Dominates Show Floor News
Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.