Ravenna Record Courier: Senator Brown touts technology in Portage visit

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By: Diane Smith

Sen. Sherrod Brown told representatives of several area flexible electronics companies Friday that flexible technology holds the potential to help Ohio emerge from the recession, and has gained attention from President Obama.

"We're doing much better in this state," Brown said at a rountable discussion hosted at Kent Displays in Brimfield. "But we're at risk of losing that edge."

The roundtable discussion was held with representatives from Kent Displays, NorTech and partners in the FlexMatters partnership.

Rebecca Bagley said flexible technologies have grown rapidly since they were first patented, and have the potential to grow to $250 billion by 2025.

"This is a world class opportunity for Northeast Ohio," she said.

Gary Niehaus, who uses liquid crystals in his biomedical research, said he needs help with fundraising and identifying grants and venture capital sources.

Dr. Albert Green of Kent Displays said bank funding is increasingly difficult to find, and loan terms are much shorter.

"The banks have gone from loaning money to almost anyone who breathes to "if you don't need it, we'll maybe lend it to you,'" he said.

Don Styblo of Voltronic in Akron said his company is involved in developing CT scanners and technology used in the high speed rail industry. He said his clients are seeking to reverse the trade imbalance between the two countries. At its peak, he said, the company will bring about $500 million a year in business to Ohio.

"When I go around and lecture, they cannot believe we're doing these things in Ohio," Styblo said.

Kent State University President Lester Lefton said he is concerned that proposed reductions in federal Pell Grants could prevent KSU from training employees to work in high tech industries. About 19,000 of KSU's 42,0000 students receive the Pell Grant, and 60 percent of students at the regional campuses rely on Pell Grants.

"Without it, they won't be able to go to college," he said. "They just won't."

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