Fisher announces $24 million in engineering awards
COLUMBUS, OHIO (June 26, 2008) - Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, today announced that the Commission recommended more than $24 million in grants through the Ohio Engineering and Physical Science Research Commercialization Program to four Ohio companies and one Ohio university to support commercialization of new and innovative technologies including converting waste heat to usable electricity and improving solar cell technology. The awards are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval.
"Capturing ideas and research techniques in our targeted industry areas is essential to solidifying Ohio's position as an economic leader," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The ideas are there; it is the responsibility and privilege of the State to partner on these important projects to ensure commercialization."
The purpose of the Engineering and Physical Science Research Commercialization Program is to make Ohio a leader in creating new jobs and business opportunities by commercializing technology-based products. Projects must be targeted in the areas of advanced materials, power and propulsion, information technology, and instruments-controls-electronics.
The Commission announced the following awards for the Fiscal Year 2008 Ohio Engineering and Physical Science Research Commercialization Program:
AlphaMicron, Inc., located in Kent (Portage County) and in collaboration with NASA Glenn Research Center, Kent State University, and Sekisui Chemical Company, was recommended for $5 million in funding to move its Adaptive Windows technology from demonstration to the market entry phase of technology commercialization. The company specializes in liquid crystal applications for electronically controllable eyewear, and the specific project is to create a window that has a self-regulating and powered electronically controllable tint.
reXorce Thermionics, Inc., located in Akron (Summit County) and in collaboration with Parker Hannifin Corp., Case Western Reserve University, University of Akron, Carbide Derivative Technologies, Inc., and Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. was recommended for $4.3 million in funding to develop technology that can capture waste heat and convert it into usable electricity. Most of the world's electrical power is generated by heat engines that convert heat into mechanical energy, which is then converted into electricity. Approximately 15 trillion watts of energy is not converted, but is instead released into the environment as waste heat. The project aims to convert some of this lost heat to electricity.
Xunlight Corp., located in Toledo (Lucas County) and in collaboration with Photovoltaics Innovation Center, University of Toledo, SCI Engineered Materials, Inc., Advanced Distributed Generation, LLC, and Luma/Allen Brothers, Inc., was recommended for just more than $4.9 million to leverage laboratory-demonstrated technology advancements into existing Ohio-based manufacturing lines and bring new products to market. The proposed project has three primary objectives: develop an improved, advanced thin-film solar-cell fabrication technology; develop an improved, advanced flexible solar module manufacturing process, with the necessary equipment; and develop advanced photovoltaic products targeted to markets to leverage the competitive characteristics of their thin-film solar cells.
University of Dayton, located in Dayton (Montgomery County) and in collaboration with American Technical Coatings, Inc., the Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanomaterials and Devices, Hartzell Propeller, Inc., Maverick Corporation, NanoSperse, LLC, North Coast Composites, Renegade Materials Corporation, University of Akron, Vector Composites, GE Aviation, Goodrich Corporation, and the Air Force Research Lab was recommended for $5 million in funding for to increase the performance of existing composite materials by developing and applying new coatings without compromising processability. The collaborators will develop and commercialize integrated protective coatings for composites by taking advantage of the Ohio-based supply-chain of technology providers and end-users that are all members of this consortium.
The Andersons, Inc., located in Maumee (Lucas County) and in collaboration with the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, National Lime & Stone Company, PSB Company, Syngenta, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, was recommended for $5 million in funding to accelerate commercialization of existing and developmental granule technology in various agricultural applications. The advanced granules more effectively contain, transport, and deliver fertilizer and pesticides, or other biologically active ingredients to specific areas. The broad range of targeted applications includes turf, nursery, floriculture, fruits, vegetables, and row crops.
The Engineering and Physical Science Research Commercialization Program provides grants to support technology-based economic development through research, development, and commercialization activities in Ohio. Projects are to be collaborations among Ohio for-profit firms, Ohio higher education institutions, and Ohio non-profit research organizations. Proposals must focus on technologies in the fields of advanced materials, power and propulsion, information technology, and instruments-controls-electronics.
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Media contacts: Kelly Schlissberg at (614) 466-4133 or Kimber Perfect at (614) 466-2609
