A consortium of northwest Ohio businesses and educational institutions that focuses on innovation in glass production took a big step Tuesday with the official opening of its Glass Center of Excellence.
The Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium’s facility will be housed on the same Perrysburg campus where the O-I Glass world headquarters is based.
The new center will work to support research, training, and collaboration among various private and public organizations, all of which are dedicated to making the region a leader in glass science, engineering, and production.
The center will be funded by a $31.3 million grant from the state as part of Ohio’s Innovation Hub program. The participating glassmakers and educational institutions will contribute an additional $10.5 million to the project.
The consortium’s corporate participants include O-I Glass, Owens Corning, First Solar, Pilkington, and Libbey. The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and Owens Community College are its academic members. The Regional Growth Partnership, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and ConnecToledo are also members.
The University of Toledo’s interim president, Matt Schroeder, said UT will contribute the time and talents of one yet-to-be hired tenure track professor to steer the consortium’s research efforts.
The center’s offices will house experts in process control AI optimization, glass melting, talent development, glass surface treatments, the electrification of various glass-making processes, and other aspects of glass production.
State Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican who represents communities to the west of Toledo, said the consortium “sets the bar high for what public-private partnership can achieve. By bringing together government, industry and education, we are not just honoring our legacy — we’re building a future where Ohio leads the world in glass and solar technology.”
Ludovic Valette, the vice president and chief science and technology officer at O-I Glass, who also serves as NOIC’s chairman of the board, welcomed about 100 civic, educational, and corporate leaders to the Glass Center of Excellence’s headquarters on Tuesday. He said collaboration among the institutions that are members of the consortium was essential if the Toledo area was to become a global leader in glass science, engineering, and production.
“This is a major victory for Toledo, boosting our glass and solar industries and creating new jobs. I was proud to fight for Innovation Hub funding on the House Finance Committee and to champion the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium,” said state Rep. Michele Grim (D., Toledo).
Most of the speakers at the event mentioned the importance of developing a work force that could support a new, higher-tech version of the glass industry. Owens Community College is taking the lead in this area.
“Owens is committed to training the work force of the glass industry,” said the college’s president, Dione Somerville. “Our training programs will match the pace and ambitions of the glass community. Together, we’re preparing people for meaningful careers.”
”Think of all the people who established these organizations that put us where we are today,” said Rodney K. Rogers, the president of Bowling Green State University. “That is our history, especially around glass. We will be a global leader in glass science and innovation. One of my favorite quotes is ‘fortune favors the connected mind.’ Human-centered innovation is our future — people coming together, learning together, and connecting.”
First Published April 15, 2025, 8:24 p.m.
