Manufacturers in the Mahoning Valley gain easier access to research capabilities

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University and the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) have signed a cooperative agreement that will enable small to midsize manufacturers in the Mahoning Valley to gain easier access to the research capabilities, hard assets and world-class knowledge and technological capabilities based at YSU and four other institutions.

The agreement commits YSU, Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, Lorain County Community College and the University of Akron to further economic development in the region by helping manufacturers pursue innovative growth strategies through MAGNET’s Partnership for Regional Innovation Services to Manufacturers (PRISM) program.

“PRISM is designed to assist small to medium-size manufacturers grow and create jobs by helping them take full advantage of the many assets and resources in Northeast Ohio, such as the knowledge, assets and power of Youngstown State and the other four colleges who have signed on to partner with MAGNET’s PRISM program. We believe that by working together through PRISM, the Mahoning Valley and Northeast Ohio can become an internationally recognized leader in manufacturing education and innovation,” said MAGNET President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel E. Berry.

“This agreement is yet another step in Youngstown State University’s emergence as an urban research university,” YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson said. “It allows YSU to increase its regional footprint and to extend our reach beyond the Mahoning Valley area to more companies throughout all of Northeast Ohio.

Anderson said the partnership could result in more internship/co-op opportunities for YSU students, earlier and more student exposure to companies, more industry-focused academic projects, and more YSU graduates employed in the region and more new products and markets for regional manufacturers.

Among the academic and technical expertise that YSU brings to MAGNET are The Center for Excellence in International Business, Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Engineering, Center for Transportation and Materials Engineering, Center for Applied Chemical Biology, Institute of Applied Topology and the Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute.