Cluster convener
Polymer Industry Cluster
The regional polymer industry cluster coordinating industry, university, public-sector, and federal Tech Hubs resources for Northeast Ohio.
polymerindustrycluster.org
2026 innovation intake
The polymer
economy runs through Northeast Ohio.
picinnovation.org is the application portal for the polymer industry's annual innovation intake. Funding, lab access, and partner introductions for researchers, founders, and manufacturers working on the next generation of polymer materials.
Intake windowMay 15 to Jun 30, 2026
TracksSynthe6 Accelerator · PIC R&D
Researchers
Manufacturers
Startups
Applications open May 15
Apply for up to $500K to advance a polymer-industry innovation.
One application reviewed across the network, routed to the right program for funding, facilities, mentors, and commercialization support.
WindowMay 15 - June 30, 2026
TracksSynthe6 / PIC R&D / Both
The network
Three organizations. One application.
This portal helps applicants start in one place. The partner sites remain the source for program detail, events, news, and broader organizational context.
Startup and commercialization partner
Bounce Innovation Hub
Akron startup support, accelerator programming, founder services, and commercialization resources for teams building from the region.
bouncehub.orgMaterials accelerator
Synthe6
A materials-focused accelerator pathway for founders and researchers commercializing polymer, circularity, and advanced materials technologies.
bouncehub.org/synthe62026 focus areas
What the network is looking for.
The intake is broad enough for emerging polymer innovation, but these priorities help applicants understand where the 2026 cycle is pointed.
01
Next-generation materials
Advanced polymer platforms, additives, coatings, films, and materials systems with clear performance or sustainability advantages.
02
Circular and recyclable solutions
Technologies that improve recycling, recovery, reuse, material compatibility, or lower-waste processing for polymer value chains.
03
AI-driven discovery and manufacturing
Digital tools, data-enabled discovery, process intelligence, and AI-supported scale-up for polymer innovation.
04
Health and medical materials
Biomaterials, diagnostics, wound care, protective systems, and polymer-enabled health applications.
05
Energy storage and materials systems
Materials, interfaces, films, composites, and processing approaches that support emerging energy applications.
Who it is for
If any of these fit, apply.
One intake. The network routes you to the right team. You do not have to know your track up front.
Startups commercializing materials technology
Founder-led teams building a polymer, circularity, or advanced materials company.
University researchers ready for translation
Academic teams moving validated research toward pilots, partners, and commercialization.
Manufacturers with an applied R&D need
Companies developing a new material, process, product, or recyclable packaging pathway.
Teams needing facilities, mentors, or scale-up help
Applicants who may fit Synthe6, PIC R&D, or both and need the network to route them.
2026 timeline
What happens after you apply.
May 15
Intake opens
Applicants can begin the shared 2026 intake.
Jun 30
Applications close
Complete materials are due by the close of the intake window.
Summer
Reviewer scoring
Assigned reviewers evaluate eligible applications.
Summer
I&C committee review
Committee review and ranking timing is still being confirmed.
Fall
Cohort kickoff
Awarded teams onboard with the network.
Past awardees
14 active Year 1 Innovation Hub projects.
A source-backed portfolio preview from the first active cycle. Full photos, case studies, and final public links still need approval before polished launch.
Auto-rotating projects
Synthe6
ACE Innovations
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.
Sustainable infrastructure
Synthe6 + PIC R&D
Auxilium Health
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.
Health and medical
Synthe6
BioVerde
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.
Sustainable biomaterials
Synthe6
GelPure
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.
Water and PFAS
Synthe6
Materium Technologies
Nanocomposite coatings and films
Machine-learning-assisted nanocomposite coatings and films for electronics, photonics, solar, energy storage, and advanced barrier applications.
Advanced coatings
Synthe6
Plastinuva
Selective polypropylene recovery from mixed plastic waste
Selective dissolution process that recovers pure, virgin-like polypropylene from mixed and multilayer plastic waste streams.
Recycling and circularity
Synthe6 + PIC R&D
PolyKinetix
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.
Recycling and circularity
Synthe6
Seauciel
Hydrothermal polyolefin recycling
Hydrothermal process that compatibilizes mixed PE/PP waste into higher-value recycled material without downgrading it to fuel.
Mixed-plastic recycling
Synthe6
TKM Ballistics
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.
Protective materials
PIC R&D
Case Western Reserve University
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.
Advanced processing
PIC R&D
Peak Nano
Degradable multilayer polymer films
Biodegradable nanolayered polymer films for sustainable food, beverage, and medical packaging, built on Peak Nano multilayer co-extrusion technology.
Sustainable packaging
PIC R&D
Promerus
Green DCPD from renewable biomass
Renewable-route dicyclopentadiene platform for advanced thermosets and high-performance polymer applications.
Renewable monomers
PIC R&D
Synthomer
Additives for lighter recyclable packaging
Additive packages that help polyethylene films and rigid packaging become thinner, lighter, and more recyclable while preserving performance.
Recyclable packaging
PIC R&D
University of Akron
CO2 and butadiene polymer platform
Research pairing carbon dioxide with butadiene to create sustainable polymer materials and recyclable carbon-fiber composite chemistries.
Advanced materials