A Toledo consortium of universities and glassmakers have narrowed their request for state tech hub funding to glass-only research and a four-year total of between $25 million and $30 million, organizers say.
Like other applicants, the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium could request a maximum of $35 million, said Roger Smith, the Toledo group’s regional innovation officer.
Frank Calzonetti, University of Toledo vice president of innovation and economic development and a co-leader of the Toledo tech hub consortium, said the group has several areas of research to explore.
All members can benefit from improvements in glass strength and lightweighting, including coatings and other processes that reduce defects leading to waste, Mr. Calzonetti said.
Improvements in recycling are of interest to all, as are alternative fuels capable of replacing natural gas in the glassmaking process, he said.
The goals of the consortium dovetail with other glass research that the University of Toledo is undertaking, Mr. Calzonetti said.
