CIPPO Conference 2025 to Focus on Growing Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Center for Economic Development will host the 2025 Connecting Innovation Policy and Practice in Ohio (CIPPO) Conference: Putting Strategy into Action: Growing Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector. The event will take place in the Roberta Steinbacher Atrium at the Levin School of Urban Affairs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Ohio is the nation’s third-largest state for manufacturing employment, with nearly 700,000 jobs and more than $134 billion in goods produced annually. The manufacturing sector drives over 17 percent of the state’s GDP and has a presence in all 88 counties.
The conference will highlight NEO-SMART (Northeast Ohio Strengthening Manufacturing for American Resilience through Technology), the region’s proposal to the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program. This initiative aims to expand advanced manufacturing capabilities, foster innovation, and strengthen workforce development. NEO-SMART is currently a semifinalist for an implementation award of up to $160 million over 10 years.
Attendees will hear from leaders in industry, research, and economic development, with sessions on advanced manufacturing strategies, workforce readiness, and regional collaboration.