One 2026 intake gives startups, companies, and research teams based in Ohio, or willing to relocate to or operate here, a direct path to Synthe6 accelerator support, competitive PIC translational R&D funding, or both.
The shared intake connects Bounce Innovation Hub's Synthe6 Materials Accelerator with PIC Translational R&D Funding. Applicants can choose one track or ask the team to consider fit for both.
These tracks are part of the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub, a regional effort backed by Ohio's Innovation Hubs Program and local partners to move polymer research and commercialization toward companies, products, and jobs in Northeast Ohio.
A Bounce-led 12-month accelerator for polymer and advanced materials startups, with mentorship, workshops, technical connections, commercialization support, and access to the regional founder network.
The Polymer Industry Cluster R&D funding track for polymer innovations with scientific merit, a feasible technical plan, and a path toward commercialization or operation in Ohio, subject to review and award terms.
Applicants can choose Synthe6, PIC Translational R&D Funding, or both. PIC and Bounce staff review the submission for completeness, eligibility, and track fit.
This portal gives applicants a single entry point for PIC Translational R&D Funding and Bounce Innovation Hub's Synthe6 Materials Accelerator. The partner sites remain the source for program detail, events, news, and broader organizational context.
The regional polymer industry cluster coordinating industry, university, public-sector, and innovation resources for Northeast Ohio.
polymerindustrycluster.orgAkron startup support, accelerator programming, founder services, and commercialization resources for teams building from the region.
bouncehub.orgA Bounce-led 12-month accelerator for polymer and advanced materials startups based in Ohio or willing to relocate to or operate in Ohio, with $25K in non-dilutive funding, mentorship, workshops, and technical connections.
bouncehub.org/synthe6The intake is broad enough for emerging polymer innovation, but these priorities help applicants understand where the 2026 cycle is pointed.
Advanced polymer platforms, additives, coatings, films, and materials systems with clear performance or sustainability advantages.
Technologies that improve recycling, recovery, reuse, material compatibility, or lower-waste processing for polymer value chains.
Digital tools, data-enabled discovery, process intelligence, and AI-supported scale-up for polymer innovation.
Biomaterials, diagnostics, wound care, protective systems, and polymer-enabled health applications.
Materials, interfaces, films, composites, and processing approaches that support emerging energy applications.
One intake. The network routes you to the right team. You do not have to know your track up front.
Founder-led teams based in Ohio or willing to relocate to or operate in Ohio while building a polymer, circularity, or advanced materials company.
Academic teams moving validated research toward pilots, partners, and commercialization.
Companies operating in Ohio or willing to operate here while developing a new material, process, product, or recyclable packaging pathway.
Applicants who may fit Synthe6, PIC Translational R&D Funding, or both and need the network to route them.
A public portfolio preview from inaugural 2025 activity, including Synthe6 participants and PIC translational R&D-funded work across health care, sustainable packaging, recycling, and advanced materials.
X-100 sustainable asphalt additive
Sustainable asphalt additive made with recycled and byproduct materials to improve adhesion and tack while reducing reliance on virgin hydrocarbon resins.
Bio-based aerogel wound dressing platform
Bio-based aerogel wound dressing platform with infection-prevention and color-change diagnostic capabilities for chronic and surgical wound care.
Sustainable biomaterials from waste-methane biology
Sustainable biomaterials company advancing biobased routes for polymer feedstocks and validating early materials work through the Akron innovation ecosystem.
High-surface-area polymer gels for PFAS removal
Polymeric adsorbent media designed to capture PFAS from drinking water at very low concentrations, with regeneration potential for lower-waste treatment.
Nanocomposite coatings and films
Machine-learning-assisted nanocomposite coatings and films for electronics, photonics, solar, energy storage, and advanced barrier applications.
Selective polypropylene recovery from mixed plastic waste
Selective dissolution process that recovers pure, virgin-like polypropylene from mixed and multilayer plastic waste streams.
Modular plastic-and-tire pyrolysis system
Modular system that converts mixed plastics and end-of-life tires into usable fuels, petrochemical precursors, fuel gas, and char.
Hydrothermal polyolefin recycling
Hydrothermal process that compatibilizes mixed PE/PP waste into higher-value recycled material without downgrading it to fuel.
UHMWPE inflatable ballistic protection
Lightweight UHMWPE ballistic protection platform that uses rapid inflation to reduce blunt-force trauma and expand applications for shields and safety systems.
Solid-state deformation processing for engineered plastics
Solid-state processing research to improve sustainability and performance in engineered plastic products, including composites, packaging, and protective materials.
Degradable multilayer polymer films
Biodegradable nanolayered polymer films for sustainable food, beverage, and medical packaging, built on Peak Nano multilayer co-extrusion technology.
Green DCPD from renewable biomass
Renewable-route dicyclopentadiene platform for advanced thermosets and high-performance polymer applications.
Additives for lighter recyclable packaging
Additive packages that help polyethylene films and rigid packaging become thinner, lighter, and more recyclable while preserving performance.
CO2 and butadiene polymer platform
Research pairing carbon dioxide with butadiene to create sustainable polymer materials and recyclable carbon-fiber composite chemistries.