by Marci E. Hersh

Case Western Reserve University has received an $18 million grant from the State of Ohio to lead the Power Partnership for Ohio, the first nonbiotech-related Wright Center of Innovation. The grant will support the research, development and commercialization of fuel cells.

"The Power Partnership for Ohio is unprecedented team of industry, government, non-profit and educational institutions focused on capturing the commercialization potential of fuel cells," said Thomas A. Zawodzinski, the F. Alex Nason Professor of Engineering at CWRU's Case School of Engineering and Ohio's only Eminent Scholar for Fuel Cell Research.

As the lead university, CWRU will house a Wright Center and Power Partnership facility on its Cleveland campus. Other collaborators include The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo, Cleveland State University and Stark State College of Technology. The Power Partnership's industry collaborators include several leading Ohio companies including American Electric Power, Battelle Memorial Institute, Dana Corporation, Keithley Instruments, HydroGen, NexTech Material Ltd., OM Group Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation and SOFCO-EFS, a subsidiary of McDermott International.

"The Power Partnership will use the grant to capitalize on partner strengths to realize an international center of excellence in the fuel cell field," Zawodzinski said. "The scope of the Partnership includes a broad segment of the value stream associated with fuel cell technology. Through the activities of this group, we hope to provide a competitive advantage to Ohio-based industry. The unique integration of cutting-edge research with commercialization will be a powerful engine for growth of Ohio's presence in this market."

The National Academy of Sciences assembled a team of Academy members that evaluated proposals for Wright Center funds based on technical merit as well as potential economic impact.

"Our areas of research interest comprise a comprehensive approach to fuel cell core technologies and tap into many existing Ohio commercial strength areas such manufacturing, materials and electronics and controls," said Zawodzinski. "The research partners bring a diverse array of academic and technical expertise to bear on critical issues affecting commercial introduction of fuel cell systems. The Power Partnership grant provides the resources to buy the research tools needed to overcome these challenges. This in turn will lead to the development of advanced products that could change the use of energy in applications ranging from consumer electronics to home heat and power to transportation."

Governor Bob Taft made the announcement of the award at a news conference Thursday, May 29, 2003.

"This Wright Center of Innovation will help Ohio become a leader in the growing fuel cell industry by enabling us to fund new ideas and commercialize new fuel cell technologies," Taft said. "These innovative technologies will touch the lives of every Ohioan through the creation of new jobs, capital investment and future commercialization opportunities."

CWRU President Edward M. Hundert said the University "deeply appreciated" the investment the state is making in the Power Partnership for Ohio. "We take seriously our role on behalf of the entire state to advance research and technology that we expect will contribute to economic growth for all of Ohio," Hundert said.

 

Legal Information | © 2003 Case Western Reserve University | Contact the Department