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For Immediate Release:
March 24, 2010

OHIO THIRD FRONTIER AWARDS SUPPORT OHIO'S
GROWING ADVANCED MATERIALS INDUSTRY

COLUMBUS -The Ohio Third Frontier Commission today recommended more than $5.7 million in funding through the Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Materials Program.The companies receiving awards are expected to leverage about $6.1 million in the State of Ohio.

The Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Materials Program supports research and development to help Ohio companies continue to make technical progress toward commercializing advanced materials related products for future applications. The awards are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval.

"Strategic investments in growing sectors like advanced materials are attracting business investment and creating good Ohio jobs," Governor Ted Strickland said. "Ohio Third Frontier is championing the research and development that is positioning Ohio to be a global leader in advanced energy development."

"Ohio's long history of manufacturing positions our state for continued success in the advanced materials industry," said Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents and Chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. "We have one of the most well-trained and well-educated workforces in the country and that is a key factor when it comes to manufacturing the advanced materials of the future. From improving technologies for wind turbines to next-generation solar, Ohio is in an excellent position right now for continued growth and success."

The Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Materials Program accelerates the development and growth of the advanced materials industry and its supply chain in Ohio. The program's assistance includes commercializing new products; commercializing manufacturing processes or technologies; adapting or modifying existing materials or components to address issues including cost, size, weight, strength, resistance to the environment, and durability of advanced materials; and addressing technical and commercialization barriers.

"This latest round of Ohio Third Frontier funding helps to solidify Ohio's role as an advanced materials leader," said Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "With $5.7 million in funding going to these six projects, and the grantees expected to leverage an additional $6.1 million, Ohio Third Frontier is truly one of the most critical incentives programs to advanced research in the state."

Fiscal Year 2010 Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Materials Program Awards:

AlphaMirror, Inc., located in the City of Kent (Portage County), in collaboration with AlphaMicron, Elbit Systems, and Magna Mirrors, was awarded $1 million for its Manufacturing of Plastic Liquid Crystal Auto Dimming Mirror project. The project goal is to commercialize a more affordable and environmentally friendly plastic film auto dimming rear view mirror utilizing a Web-based manufacturing process for the automotive original equipment manufacturer industry.

Kent Displays, Inc., located in the City of Kent (Portage County), in collaboration with Akron Polymer Systems and Kent State University, was awarded $1 million for its Advanced Liquid Crystalline, Chiral, and Dye Materials for Flexible Liquid Crystal Films project. The project is focused on the development of unique chiral materials for improved temperature and color performance, polymer materials for high brightness and lower drive voltage, and dye materials for contrast and color improvements in Kent Displays' liquid crystal display products.

Lockheed Martin MS2 Integrated Defense Technologies, located in the City of Akron (Summit County), in collaboration with Akron Polymer Systems, the University of Akron, and Chemsultants International, was awarded $1 million for its Reduced-Permeability, High-Modulus Film Project for Military Lighter-Than-Air Vehicles project. This project is designed to commercialize polymer- and nano-based films and adhesives for use in the hull fabric of Lockheed Martin's unmanned high-altitude airships for communications, intelligence, and security purposes.

Materials Research Institute, LLC, located in the City of Beavercreek (Greene County), in collaboration with Engineered Materials Systems, Wright Brothers Institute, and the Edison Materials Technology Center, was awarded $791,000 for its Metalized Nanomaterials project. This project will commercialize a unique class of conductive metalized nanomaterials for applications in signal and power transfer, electromagnetic shielding, electrical grounding, electrostatic discharge, energy storage and conversion, and thermal management for product insertion in conductive adhesives and coatings and lithium ion batteries.

Maverick Corporation, located in the City of Blue Ash (Hamilton County), in collaboration with Renegade Materials Corporation, Akron Polymer Systems, and the NASA Glenn Research Center, was awarded $1 million for its Low Cost Fabrication of High-Temperature Composites project. The goal of this project is to accelerate the manufacturing of low-cost moldable, high temperature, low melt-viscosity resin, film, and prepreg material for high impact on commercial and military aircraft, missiles, launch vehicles, and satellites, with potential applications in the automotive, chemical, and medical industries.

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., located in the City of Strongsville (Cuyahoga County), in collaboration with PolymerOhio, Steer America, the University of Akron, and SABIC Innovative Plastics, was awarded $918,000 for its Optimized Boron Nitride and Production Efficiency for Lower Cost Polymer Composites in LED Luminaires project. This project will assemble the expertise of its partners to commercialize the next generation of material for boron-nitride polymer composites, enabling the manufacturing of simple, lower cost, highly tailored LED housing products for LED lighting device manufacturers.

To view information about Ohio Third Frontier and the Advanced Materials Program, please visit www.OhioThirdFrontier.com.

Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries, and jobs, has commercialized or created more than 630 companies and attracted more than $4.76 billion in private investment to Ohio, and has a nearly 9:1 return on investment since its inception.

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