http://www.thirdfrontierproject.org/ In February of 2002, Governor Taft unveiled The Third Frontier Project. This project is the state's largest-ever commitment to expanding Ohio's high-tech research capabilities and promoting innovation and company formation that will create high-paying jobs for generations to come. en-us Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT Ohio Channel http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96373 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96373 Velocys, Inc., located in Plain City (Union County), in collaboration with the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center Wright Center of Innovation, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BP-Husky LLC Toledo Refinery, Albemarle Catalysts Company BV and NetJets, Inc., was recommended for a $4 million grant to apply the company's microchannel process technology to hydroprocessing for transportation fuels. The project focuses on hydrocracking to upgrade Fischer-Tropsch fuels and heavy petroleum feedstock for jet and diesel fuel. Additional hydroprocessing application opportunities include the processing of edible oils, specialty and fine chemicals, and conversion of natural oils and fats to transportation fuels. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96372 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96372 ViewRay Inc., located in Oakwood Village (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with Quality Electrodynamics, Case Western Reserve University, and The Ohio State University was recommended for $5 million in funding to develop an instrument combining a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a radiotherapy source to better guide radiation to cancerous tumors while minimizing radiation exposure to the healthy, surrounding tissue. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96371 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96371 Crown Equipment, located in New Bremen (Auglaize County), was awarded $1 million for its Development of an Integrated Fuel Cell Forklift Truck project. The project will investigate, model, and create a running prototype of an integrated fuel cell powered-lift truck. The integration of the fuel cell into the truck design allows improved power efficiency and design flexibility that opens material handling opportunities and applications not possible with the power pack design. Specific project tasks include a system modeling effort that involves support from Ohio Northern University, identification of and partnering with fuel cell and balance-of-plant (BOP) suppliers, bench-top model construction and baseline testing and defined specifications for the creation of a prototype truck. Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) will assist Crown with Ohio supply chain development and NexTech will work with Crown to incorporate its hydrogen sensor technology into the integrated truck design. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96370 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96370 Spectra Group Limited, Inc., located in Millbury (Wood County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding for the commercialization of advanced photopolymers, which are polymers that cure or become solid when exposed to light. The project intends to commercialize these polymers for end-use applications in stereolithography, laser and digital light processing, and as a replacement for wax in investment castings. Spectra Group Limited anticipates that the project will create 16 jobs and more than $6 million in annual revenues by 2013. The funding will be used to upgrade its manufacturing capabilities by increasing its batch size and improving its quality control, and will provide the necessary raw materials to support extensive end-user evaluations in the target markets. The company also intends to use the funding to hire technical marketing partners to develop marketing strategies leading to new customer relationships. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96369 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96369 Acor Orthopaedic, Inc., located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding to commercialize the TrueContour Therapeutic Insole System technology developed by DIApedia, a Pennsylvania company. The technology will use digital imaging of the foot to produce custom foot orthotics for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The company anticipates this project will create 50 jobs and nearly $9 million in revenues by 2013. Acor Orthopaedic intends to use the funding for installing beta test systems in high-volume clinics, making necessary software modifications, expanding the use of the system to a wider base of patients, and developing marketing materials. A national product launch is planned for the end of 2010. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96368 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96368 LSP Technologies, located in Dublin (Franklin County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding for the establishment of a business division to manufacture, sell, and service Laser Bond Inspection Technology, a testing method for determining the integrity of bonded composite material joints. The company has developed and demonstrated the technology in conjunction with The Boeing Company. The company anticipates that the aerospace sector is projected to create systems sales of $2 million by the end of the project and will grow by about $2 million per year, reaching more than $8 million in 2013. LSP Technology anticipates its staff will grow to 18 employees during this time. Non-aerospace system sales are projected to begin around 2012 and over the next five years will increase the company's revenues to $20 million from $10 million and double its staff. The funding will be used to support a sales manager, perform an in-depth market analysis for the Laser Bond Inspection technology, execute market visits to potential customers, and complete the overall commercialization plan. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96367 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96367 L-3 Communications Nova Engineering, located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding for the commercialization of the Handheld Emissions Detector, a technology that allows detection, source direction, and location of radio frequency emitters. The device is of critical importance to the U.S. Army's concepts of the Land Warrior and Future Force Warrior. The Army has successfully tested the device and five enhanced units are scheduled for delivery to the Army by the end of 2008, with two to be immediately deployed in a combat environment. L-3 Communications Nova Engineering projects additional revenues from the device of about $4 million by the end of the 18-month project, increasing to $15 million per year by 2013, with $2 million of that amount coming from non-military sales. The company anticipates the technology will create 20 jobs, and intends to use the funding to prepare manufacturing procedures for volume production and building initial units, to conduct a reliability analysis of the Handheld Emissions Detector, obtain patent protection, conduct military user exercises, and expand its market plan. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96366 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96366 UES, Inc., located in Dayton (Montgomery County) was recommended for $339,588 in funding for the commercialization of TitanCoat for automobile manufacturers, a surface treatment coating currently being commercially applied to die core pins. The coating is deposited by environmentally friendly, plasma-based physical vapor deposition processes, and the coatings have been shown to triple the life of die core pins, resulting in reduced downtown on the manufacturing floor. The company projects that this business will grow to $2 million with seven new jobs within two years, and after five years, revenues are expected to reach $5 million with a total of 12 jobs. The funding will be used to hire a business development person and increase its commercialization effort. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96365 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96365 Think-A-Move, Ltd., located in Beachwood (Cuyahoga County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding for commercialization of a system that allows hands-free control of an unmanned ground vehicle via speech recognition. The technology consists of two microphones and one speaker mounted in a headset. An in-ear microphone picks up user speech inside the ear canal while an outer microphone detects exterior noise and cancels it out, producing clear speech for controlling devices. The device was developed for communications in high-noise environments and can be marketed to military and commercial markets, including police and fire departments. The company anticipates sales revenues to reach $2.5 million by the end of the 18-month project, and more than $20 million by 2013, as well as an up-to 33-percent increase in employment during that time. Think-A-Move intends to use the funding to complete the integration of the hands-free systems for military and commercial markets, support patent protection activity, prepare sales and marketing materials, and support joint sales calls. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96364 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96364 Syncro Medical Innovations, Inc., located in Youngstown (Mahoning County), was recommended for $350,000 in funding for the commercialization of the Gabriel Magnetically Guided Feeding Tube. The tube uses magnets strategically placed at the distal tip that can be guided into position within the patient's body using an external magnet placed on the patient's abdomen. The company anticipates that the technology will eventually eliminate the need for x-rays to position all feeding tubes, and that the project will create 20 jobs and bring in $50 million in annual revenues by 2013. The funding will be used to build inventory of the feeding tube, conduct additional clinical studies at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, and hire a clinical educator, staff engineer, and marketing director. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96363 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96363 FOPAT, LLC., located in Dayton (Montgomery County) was recommended for $349,992 in funding for the rapid commercialization of advanced foam pattern material, a polymer mold to replace traditional wax molds used in the investment casting process. The new polymer mold "evaporates" when molten metal is poured into the casting. The technology offers dimensional accuracy, temperature stability, lower cost, and it reduces tooling time from 12 -14 weeks to 1 - 2 weeks. The company projects annual revenues of $3 million with 22 new jobs at the completion of the project, and $15 million with 75 new jobs after five years. The funding will be used to hire production and sales manager for production scale-up and generation of sales leads. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96362 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96362 ACME Express, Inc., located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), will receive $349,900 for its project Developing Ohio's Healthcare Information Technology Industry and Reducing Ohio Healthcare Costs by $35 million per year. ACME Express developed and currently offers a software tool (DOCS Scheduler) that optimizes medical staff scheduling using an Internet-based model that allows access from any computer location. The software consists of three modules that track the on-call and vacation schedules of medical staff across separate departments and schedule appointments efficiently. About 100 healthcare customers currently use the software mainly for doctors and nurses in anesthesia, radiology, cardiology and emergency departments. To serve additional departments and specialties, expanded user interfaces, upgrades to the system platform and hardware are required. Specifically, interfaces to a market-leading patient scheduling product, a timekeeping product and Microsoft Business Systems software are needed. In addition, a hosting data center with scalable capacity, security, and fail-safe reliability is proposed. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96361 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96361 Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems, LLC, located in Willoughby (Lake County), will receive $350,000 for its Wind Turbine Blade De-icing System Commercialization project. Kelly Aerospace Thermal Systems developed its de-icing system for aircraft under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II. The product consists of a thermal-electric anti-ice, de-ice system based on a heating element of flexible graphite bonded to a heat-conducting polyurethane. In 2006, Kelly Aerospace further developed the technology and began exploring its application to wind turbines that operate in cold climates. Icing is a major operational problem as it affects turbine structural loads, rotor performance, rotational stability, and instrumentation reliability. Use of a de-icing system can significantly increase the power output of the wind turbine, resulting in as much as a 10–15 percent power increase. In 2007 and 2008, extensive field tests were conducted on a 1MW wind turbine in Sweden, and the technology performed as planned in 7,700 hours of operation. A prototype system was installed on a 2 MW Vestas 90 wind turbine in 2008. Market entry into the wind turbine market is projected to occur within three years. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96360 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96360 Performance Polymer Solutions, Inc., located in Moraine (Montgomery County), will receive $350,000 for its High Temperature Structural Adhesives project. Performance Polymer Solutions has developed a new class of high-temperature structural adhesives that can withstand the harsh service environments of high-temperature composite structures. These adhesives have low volatiles and are suitable for wide area bonding of components with good performance and durability. The test data relative to legacy adhesives is impressive, and Vought Aircraft Industries, a future customer, has provided a strong testimonial. Other potential end-users for this technology include Pratt & Whitney, GE Aircraft Engines, Lockheed-Martin, and Northrop Grumman. These polyimide adhesives are needed for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. They are also likely to be important in missiles, space systems, electronics, off-shore drilling, and optical devices. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96359 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96359 Brighton Technologies Group, Inc., located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), will receive $350,000 for its Quality of Assurance Tool project, which seeks to enable market expansion, cost reduction, and increased fuel economy across many industries. The Surface Energy Probe (SEP) is a quality assurance tool for industrial adhesive bonding and coating operations that will reduce costs, failure rates, and rework and enable the expanded use of adhesives in airframe and auto frame manufacture and in packaging film operations. The SEP is an accurate, easy-to-use hand-held device that assesses a surface's readiness for bonding, coating, or printing. It can be used on composites, polymers, metals, and ceramics. Brighton plans to use suppliers to manufacture components for the SEP but will be responsible for assembling and testing the units. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96358 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96358 Nanotek Instruments, Inc., located in Dayton (Montgomery County), will receive $349,998 for its Commercialization of Nano Graphene Composite Electrodes for Lithium Ion Batteries project. Nanotek has developed a new class of anode materials for rechargeable batteries consisting of a composite of silicon particles with nano-graphene platelets (NGPs) and carbon. This composite material has a specific capacity of greater-than 2,000 mAh/g (milliamp hours per gram), which is 6–8 times greater than the actual capacity of graphite, and it has demonstrated that it can maintain its structural integrity and performance in more than 300 charge-discharge cycles. This composite anode material can be used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and other energy storage applications. Nanotek is collaborating with K2Energy to integrate a lithium iron phosphate cathode material with its anode material to make a full battery for testing by a battery developer (A123) and battery end-users (HST and GM). http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96357 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96357 Western Robotics, located in Kirtland (Lake County), will receive $350,000 for its Intelligent Robotic Machining project. Western Robotics has developed a robotic control technology and system that operates in a force and compliance manner, mimicking human touch and feel, allowing the robotic system to be used for surface finishing and polishing applications that are now predominantly done manually. A prototype system has been constructed and demonstrated in a laboratory setting for finishing jet engine turbine blades. An Ohio-based turbine blade manufacturer, PCC Airfoils, is assisting Western in the product development, committing to test and evaluate the technology at its facility. If the system performs as required and the blades satisfy the finish specifications, PCC Airfoils will purchase the Beta prototype system and set up a turbine blades pilot line. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96355 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96355 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, headquartered in Northeast Ohio (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with Simbionix USA Corp. and Astro Medical Devices was recommended for $3.4 million in funding to develop products to help surgeons more accurately place shoulder, hip, and knee joint replacement implants. More accurate placement will help surgeons reduce premature failure of implants, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96354 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96354 ChanTest Corporation, located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with ANALIZA, Inc., was recommended for $4.8 million in funding to expand their range of services and reagents to accelerate pharmaceutical drug discovery. ChanTest is a contract research organization (CRO) that provides services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies in ion channels and G-protein coupled receptors that are the targets of a substantial fraction of all known pharmaceuticals. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96353 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96353 Case Western Reserve University, located in the City of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with Athersys, the Cleveland Clinic, and AcelleRx Therapeutics was recommended for $5 million in funding to continue operations of the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. This Ohio Third Frontier Wright Center will develop stem cell technology from basic discovery through clinical trials. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96352 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96352 Arteriocyte, Inc., located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, The Ohio State University, and the University of Toledo, was recommended for $4.9 million in funding to further develop and expand their stem cell-based therapeutics. The Arteriocyte system uses stem cell-based technologies to improve outcomes in cardiovascular disease and other conditions. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96351 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96351 Hyper Tech Research, Inc., located in the City of Columbus (Franklin County), in collaboration with The Ohio State University, Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging, RevWires, and Siemens Magnet Technology, Ltd., was recommended for $5 million in funding to build on Hyper Tech's platform technology of high-field and high-temperature superconductor wire technology. Hyper Tech will utilize magnesium diboride (MgB2) superconducting wire for a commercial size next-generation full body MRI system, which will operate at higher temperatures and will not require the use of liquid helium bath cooling. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96350 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96350 Zyvex Performance Materials, Inc., located in the City of Columbus (Franklin County), in collaboration with PolyOne Corporation, University of Akron, Shawnee State University, University of Dayton Research Institute, National Composite Center, Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanomaterials and Devices (CMPND) Wright Center of Innovation, Renegade Materials Corporation, Hexion, PolymerOhio, Lockheed Martin, Owens Corning, and Hexcel, was recommended for $4.9 million in funding to further develop and produce carbon nanotubes modified with Zyvex's unique Kentera technology. The carbon nanotubes will be used to develop advanced composites for lighter, stronger and lower cost products, with potential applications in the marine, sporting goods, aerospace, and highend automotive industries. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96349 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96349 Kent Displays, Inc., located in the City of Kent (Portage County), in collaboration with DuPont Teijin Films, Kent State University, University of Akron, and Solomon Systech Ltd., was recommended for $4.9 million in funding to manufacture and market the world's first color electronic skin for mobile electronic products. Kent Displays' will utilize its commercially successful ReflexTM liquid crystal-based technology to create a reflective skin to quickly and easily change the color of mobile electronic devices, including cell phones, laptop computers, and MP3 players, without draining power from the device. http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96348 http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/third_frontier_project/grant.cfm?grant_id=96348 Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems (RRFCS), located in North Canton (Stark County), was awarded $600,000 for its Low Cost Internal Steam Reformer for 1MW SOFC Electric Power System project. RRFCS will improve the performance and reduce the cost of a critical component in RRFCS's fuel cell design—the internal steam reformers (ISRs). The current internal steam reformer was developed by Rolls-Royce in the U.K. and has demonstrated baseline performance requirements. However, its cost and durability are barriers yet to be overcome. In this project, RRFCS will transfer the current internal steam reformer technology to its Ohio operations to address these barriers and develop a commercially viable internal steam reformer. The project will establish a new performance baseline using a catalyst manufactured by BASF that offers a 50 percent internal steam reformer cost reduction. The Ohio State University will explore catalyst performance to determine pathways to an order-of-magnitude lower cost internal steam reformer.