The TechBelt Initiative:Collaborating for Impact

TechBelt SummitYoungstown State University

November 21, 2014

TechBelt Timeline

Q: Can you create a virtual organization that still has enough structure to support 4+ years of collaboration?

A: YES! Goals• Retain, attract and create targeted wealth-generating employment

within the high-growth, high-demand industry sectors• Implement a comprehensive “supply-chain” focused investment

strategy that strengthens the region’s manufacturing base • Promote industry-research partnerships to increase technology

transfer, improve production processes and generate new applied research

How We Operate• Each initiative must have a champion from at least two of the three

TechBelt states (OH, PA, WV)• Champions assign a staff member to work with TechBelt staff• TechBelt will provide support letters for other worthy initiatives

limited to one organization or one state

TechBelt helps the region compete on a bigger scale

TechBelt is proactive in building partnerships to stay ahead of the curve

We did not wait for Additive Manufacturing to wreck our supply chains, we formed the national institute.

TechBelt addresses regional needs where we can also assert national and global leadership

Rather than compete with each other, we collaborate to compete with Atlanta, Chicago or Tokyo

Competitors or Collaborators?

August 16, 2012 TechBelt’s consortium was awarded the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute award.

How we won it

83 regional partners organized $39M in match funds for $30M from federal government.

What it has meant

10 of 23 funded projects involve regional partners from OH, PA, WV

Siemens provides $440M in software to YSU

PRA leverages AmericaMakes to get $32 GE investment

How are benefits shared?

Working Groups & Instructions:How can TechBelt help the region compete on a

bigger scale

Opportunities for the Future

Potential Working Groups

• Additive Manufacturing and Regional Supply Chains• Regional Opportunities in Manufacturing Innovation

– Innovation/Maker Spaces and Regional Growth

• Regional Energy Downstream Strategy• Regional Innovation and Opportunities in Water & Energy

Working Group Instructions

• Goal: Identify priorities and tasks for the 2015 work plan

• It is okay if topics overlap• Collaboration between tables is good• Identify the table reporter• Answer as many of the following questions as

you can

Working Group Questions

• What is the opportunity?• What regional partners are needed for success?• Who are we competing with?• What is the potential for national / global leadership?• How does this promote the following:

– Wealth-generating employment– Strengthen regional supply chains– Promote industry-research partnerships

• Who will champion this initiative?• What support can TechBelt provide?

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