A Northeast Ohio consortium of universities, state and regional economic development organizations and manufacturers led by Case Western Reserve University has been selected among 29 semifinalists competing for a $160 million U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative to drive economic transformation nationally through technological innovation.
This week, NSF announced that Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology, or NEO-SMART, has advanced to the next round, which involves a virtual site visit to learn more about the consortium’s partnership, vision and proposal for research and development and job creation.
NEO-SMART, the only semifinalist in Ohio, was among 71 invited applicants nationally competing for funding through NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) Program designed to spur economic growth and jobs by advancing critical technologies, such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced materials and biotechnology.
NSF anticipates announcing the finalists early next year.
Led by Case Western Reserve, the NEO-SMART consortium has more than 60 committed partners, including: Greater Cleveland Partnership, Team NEO, Cleveland Foundation, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and Polymer Industry Cluster, Fund for Our Economic Future, MAGNET, JumpStart, JobsOhio, Lorain County Community College and the University of Akron, plus many manufacturing companies headquartered in the region.
NEO-SMART also benefits from meaningful governmental support at the local, county and state levels.
“NEO-SMART engages the region’s leading public and private partners in a collaboration to grow research, innovation and, importantly, advanced manufacturing jobs for Northeast Ohio,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “As a research university focused on impact, we are proud to lead this exceptional collective effort.”
Regional economic engine
The semifinalist teams, which have been building their regional coalitions for at least a year, are led by universities, nonprofits, private industry and other organizations from across the country.
NEO-SMART’s proposal to the NSF Engines program focuses on developing advanced materials and manufacturing processes. The goal: drive breakthroughs in advanced materials, strengthen domestic production and secure resilient supply chains while positioning Northeast Ohio as a global innovation hub for next-generation materials and accelerating technology commercialization.
“NEO-Smart is a critical innovation alliance, leveraging our region’s strengths in making things that matter for national technology and security priorities,” said Baiju Shah, president and chief executive officer of the Great Cleveland Partnership. “Our companies are global leaders that are excited to participate in a strategic initiative that supports their growth and the region’s leadership in manufacturing.”
More specifically, NEO-SMART aims to transform manufacturing by concentrating on three material-focused clusters: metals, chemicals and coatings, and polymers.
If awarded, the NSF grant would allow the consortium to scale its innovations, such as advanced recycling techniques, AI/machine learning for materials and manufacturing, energy-efficient processes and advanced coatings. It would also support workforce development programs critical to equipping local workers with the skills needed for advanced manufacturing roles.
“Each team was selected because it brought strong public and private partners to the table and outlined a promising vision for research, innovation and workforce development in their respective regions of service, thereby advancing U.S competitiveness, national security and economic growth,” NSF said in announcing the 29 semifinalists.
This article was published in The Daily on July 10, 2025 and was reproduced here in its entirety. For more information, contact Bill Lubinger at william.lubinger@case.edu.