News Releases

09.24.09- EMTEC Hosts Economic Symposium

(Trotwood, Ohio, Tuesday, September 24, 2009) – On September 28, 2009, the Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) and the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) will hold a symposium at the Madison Lakes Park facility in Trotwood, Ohio. This symposium will help regional elected officials and economic development professionals learn of new opportunities in future growth markets such as the alternative energy fuel cells and its corresponding supply chain products for the Dayton region and southwest Ohio.

Ohio has a rich history of sophisticated manufacturing and has historically enjoyed a burgeoning manufacturing supply chain. The historical automotive markets are rapidly changing and declining U.S. automotive sales have negatively impacted Ohio’s manufacturers. This decline extends not only to the automotive makers and their Tier 1 suppliers, but to the large number of lower tier suppliers which include many small and medium-sized manufacturing companies who fed this supply chain. However, there are new opportunities in future growth markets such as the alternative energy fuel cells and its corresponding supply chain products.

EMTEC is working with the OFCC on a collaborative grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to provide information on emerging fuel cell markets to assist in providing information to elected officials and community leaders about these new opportunities for manufacturers in our region. The symposium features speakers describing information on fuel cells as an important advanced energy component, the current Ohio fuel cell initiatives, southwest Ohio’s success in fuel cell research, manufacturing, and in the fuel cell supply chain, and potential new opportunities for southwest Ohio. The Madison Lakes Park Learning and Conference Center was chosen for two major reasons: 1) it is a Montgomery County owned facility that already is the site of alternative energy usage in practice, and 2) it is located in Trotwood and the city of Trotwood, along with Mayor Davis, City Manager Lucking, and the Trotwood City Council, have shown significant interest in transforming their community into a dynamic model of using advanced energy as a transformative agent in revitalizing its economy.

The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) is a non-profit, member-based organization serving Ohio. EMTEC develops technology and business strategies, sponsors and manages collaborative technology projects and programs, and provides technology and business based assistance that facilitates the commercialization of our member company’s new technology. EMTEC’s focus is on products and technologies in Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy, and Instruments, Controls, and Electronics with a commitment to our mission of accelerating technology to market. With over 22 years experience, EMTEC provides technical coordination, business assistance, and commercialization support to Ohio's industry, universities, and government labs to strengthen Ohio's industrial competitiveness in advanced energy, instruments controls, and electronics, automotive, metals and castings, nanomaterials, composites, biomaterials, and other advanced materials markets. The Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) is a 501(c)(6) organization incorporated in Cleveland, Ohio composed of a group of industry, academic, and government leaders working collectively to strengthen Ohio’s fuel cell industry and transform Ohio to global leadership in fuel cell technology. The Coalition was established to ensure Ohio’s regional and national leadership, works to advance the integration of a coordinated fuel cell infrastructure and supply chain in Ohio, and promotes public awareness about the positive role fuel cell technology can play as an efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible source of energy.

For additional information about this event, please contact David W. Swenson at EMTEC by telephone at (937) 259-1365 or by email at dswenson@emtec.org or visit EMTEC’s website at www.emtec.org.