Where Should Ohio Focus Its Industry Development Attention?

According to a hard-hitting and insightful report by the Ohio Business Roundtable, five strategic industries or industry clusters should be given major attention in Ohio in the future. These include:

Advanced Materials

o High-performance materials for structural components: These materials have a relatively high strength-to-weight ratio, can transmit high mechanical loads dynamically or statically, or can effectively operate in harsh environments.
o Functional polymer-based materials: Functional materials have special properties beyond those of basic materials. Functional polymer-based materials -- holds high potential for application growth.

Biosciences

o Medical devices and imaging; translational and clinical services; cardiovascular, cancer, and child health; agriculture, pharmaceuticals and homeland security project: Ohio has strength on which to build in all of these areas.
o Intersections between complimentary, well-developed technology areas and bioscience: bio-informatics, bio-materials, bio-science targeted nano-devices and advanced manufacturing all hold promise for collaboration and commercialization.
o Emerging technologies: This includes regenerative medicine and cellular engineering, and other areas defined by entrepreneurs as growing in importance.

Information Technology

o Data management: This is a specific Ohio information technology strength that cuts
across all segments of industry.
o Support other technology focus areas: information technology is a crosscutting need that supports all of the other key focus areas. Ohio must invest in accelerating IT application and adoption in these areas.

Instruments, Controls, Electronics and Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

o Integration of computing, communication, measurement and control: An industry-
university center with this focus would help align needs with development.
o Technology transfer: Again, Ohio has an opportunity here to leverage university and research strengths.

Power and Propulsion

o Turbine technology: This directly impacts the aviation industry, where Ohio already is a leader. Spin-off technology benefits the entire power industry.
o Fuel cells: The quest for cleaner, more efficient power has sparked significant national interest in this emerging technology.

Download the report here.