Putting Strategy into Action: Growing Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector, CIPPO Conference 2025
Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025
Time: 8:30 am Registration | 9:00 am – 1:30 pm Program
Location: Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, Roberta Steinbacher Atrium, 1717 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
About This Event | Agenda | Registration
About This Event
A robust domestic manufacturing base is essential for the nation's security and prosperity and Ohio is a key player in driving those interests. Ohio is the 3rd largest state for manufacturing employment in the country with nearly 700,00 jobs in the manufacturing sector. The state produces more than $134 billion in manufactured goods annually and manufacturing in Ohio is a major driver of the state's economy, contributing over 17% to the GDP of the state. There are manufacturing operations in every one of the state’s 88 counties, with Cuyahoga County boasting nearly 9% of the total with 1,530 establishments alone.
The 2025 Connecting Innovation Policy and Practice in Ohio (CIPPO) event will feature NEO-SMART, Northeast Ohio’s proposal to National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program that aims to catalyze and foster innovation ecosystems across the United States for national and economic security. The region received an NSF Engine Development Award in 2023 to build a regional strategy for advanced manufacturing technologies in our region with research-driven discovery, development, translation, and commercialization, along with developing the needed workforce. The region’s proposal, Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology (NEO-SMART) is currently a semifinalist in the current round of competition for an implementation award of up to $160M over 10 years. The consortium includes the 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.
Join us to both learn and engage in the work to advance manufacturing in Ohio.
Agenda
8:30 – 9:00 am: Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 am: Welcome and Introductions
- Jill Gordon, Ph.D., Dean, Levin College of Public Affairs and Education
- Molly Schnoke, Director, Center for Economic Development, EDA University Center
9:15 – 9:30 am: Grace Galluci, Executive Director, NOACA - Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Update
9:30 – 9:45 am: Matthew Duplin, Manager, CSU-TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center
9:45 – 10:15 am: Steve Fritsch, Vice President, Industry Advancement & Engagement
10:15 – 10:30 am: TeamNEO – Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Update
10:30 – 10:45 am: Mike Yost, NEO and Ohio Manufacturing Update – Manufacturing Works
10:45 - 11:00am: Break
11:00 am – 12:15 pm: NSF Engines – Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology – What’s needed to move forward? How can the region come together to support advanced manufacturing?
Moderator:
- Nancy Pratt, Executive Director, Division of Continuing Education, Office of Workforce Development, Cleveland State University
Panelists:
- Nick Barendt, Assistant Vice President of Research for Technology and Ecosystem Growth, Case Western Reserve University
- Ethan Karp, Ph.D., President and CEO, MAGNET
- Bethia Burke, President, Fund for Our Economic Future
- Mike Yost, Director, Manufacturing Excellence Program, Manufacturing Works
- Greater Cleveland Partnership
12:15 – 1:30 Lunch – ManuFutures Session – Industry Sector Focused Discussions in partnership with the CSU EMDiS Center and Manufacturing Works