Innovation Initiatives

Technology & Innovation Leaders Group

Our Technology & Innovation Leaders Group brings together Chief Technology and Innovation Officers and corporate functional leaders in technology, innovation and R&D. This group includes participants from the region’s largest companies and research institutions including NASA Glenn.

They meet to build relationships, exchange best practices and guide regional initiatives, fostering partnerships and advancing collaborative efforts such as centers of excellence in sustainability, AI and advanced manufacturing technologies.

AI in Manufacturing Working Group

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been identified as a priority area for driving dynamic business operations. Large companies across diverse industries such as automotive, aerospace, chemicals, energy and healthcare, are engaging in collaborations with federal research institutions and universities to explore AI's potential to transform manufacturing and supply chain operations.

The group is a forum to share best practices, to learn about the latest AI advancements, and to push the state of the art in science, technology and engineering.

Innovation in Sustainable Solutions 

Innovation is key to sustainability and decarbonization, especially for industries like steel, cement, chemicals, plastics and food production. Companies and research institutions across the region are working together with philanthropy and local governments to create centers of excellence for Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials through recent awards including an NSF Innovation Engine, an EDA Tech Hub, and the Arch-2 Hydrogen Hub.

Together, they are pursuing targeted innovation opportunities to drive sustainable growth for businesses via the deployment of the latest technologies.

Our Sustainability Leaders Group has also initiated a Lab program where companies work together to solve common challenges. These Labs are industry-led efforts to exchange best practices and find opportunities for collaborative solutions.