Polymers at a crossroad

Those of us in the Akron area take a certain pride in the evolution of the tire industry. We may not have a complete appreciation of the development of polymers. We do know the Youngstowns, Clevelands and Cantons are somewhat envious. We should also be candid enough to admit that polymers have yet to fulfill their economic promise in the region. True, too, is that an industry employing 140,000 statewide faces increasingly stiff competition from overseas. Innovation has become the premium. Thankfully, a roadmap has been devised pointing the way to the industry many have long envisioned.

You may have missed the unveiling last month, the presidential candidates having occupied the attention of Ohioans in recent weeks. The Ohio Polymer Strategic Council, a network of industry, government and universities, enlisted the aid of Battelle of Columbus, a highly respected research institute, to craft a strategic plan for the next advance in polymers. The result is the "Polymer Strategic Opportunity Roadmap,'' calling for concrete action and an investment of $232 million during the next 10 years.

The temptation may be to grumble about yet another plan. This region has produced an avalanche of words about the route to revival. It may be that the polymer roadmap is destined to collect dust. That would be a shame. Battelle and the polymer strategy council have delivered a realistic and necessary plan.

Polymer companies stress that the industry faces a crossroad, firms either advancing or fading away. The roadmap details how to survive and thrive. The framework isn't a guarantee. Rather, if the industry and its partners (including the state as a whole) do not take these steps, the prospects are bleak, jobs flowing overseas, innovations surfacing elsewhere.

Almost any successful business establishes benchmarks and then mobilizes its resources to meet those goals. The roadmap follows the practice, calling, among other things, for a team to start planning a federally funded center for excellence in nano-enhanced polymers and increasing the level of technical and business assistance for small- and medium-sized polymer processors. The processing of polymers is the strong suit of the region. The roadmap places a high priority on improved coordination within the industry, recognizing the value of integrated efforts among companies.

With that in mind, the University of Akron has joined with Ohio State University and a collection of other schools, companies and organizations to pursue state investment money, leveraging research dollars to create new products and jobs in the polymer and related industries. The re-energizing of the Northeast Ohio economy isn't likely to come from industries emerging wholly new in the region. The more promising course stems from building on local strengths, taking advantage of the clusters already in place. In that way, polymers fit perfectly.

The notion of synergy has become cliched. Yet it signals the objective, the many parts of the polymer industry sharing ideas and a common strategy, creating the buzz that attracts brilliant minds, younger and older. The advance won't occur overnight. It won't happen at all without following the roadmap.