According to an article by TechPoint, “Hardtech, also referred to as hard technology, is a term used to describe a category of innovative technologies that are typically based on scientific breakthroughs, advanced engineering, and complex hardware. These technologies often require substantial investment in research and development (R&D), specialized expertise, and a lengthy period of development and testing before they can be successfully commercialized. Hardtech is characterized by its ability to solve significant real-world problems and its potential to drive transformative change across various industries.”
This definition captures exactly why Ohio is poised to lead the next wave of innovation. Hardtech is not just about ideas; it’s about building the future, and Ohio is a place that builds.
For generations, Ohio has been a powerhouse of manufacturing and materials innovation. We know how to make things — and not just make them, but make them well, at scale, and with global distribution in mind. Our state sits within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the U.S. and 50 percent of the Canadian populations. We are deeply connected to national and international supply chains. We have the infrastructure, the talent and the legacy. We also have experience. Ohio’s economy is rooted in sectors where hardtech is already making an impact: automotive, aerospace, health care, materials, agriculture, water and advanced manufacturing.
But hardtech isn’t about relying on the past. It’s about pushing forward with new materials, new energy sources and new solutions to urgent problems in health care, agriculture, defense and sustainability. And that’s where Ohio’s assets come together in powerful ways.
Our research universities are producing the science that fuels hardtech breakthroughs. Places like The Ohio State University, the University of Akron, Kent State University, and Case Western Reserve University, not to mention neighboring Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh. These institutions are deeply embedded in our regional economies and increasingly focused on translational research, moving innovation from the lab to the market.
Meanwhile, across the state, a strong network of organizations is helping turn these ideas into startups with the potential to scale. From Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron to BRITE Energy Innovators in Warren, Youngstown Business Incubator, and MAGNET in Cleveland, we have built a robust support ecosystem for hardtech entrepreneurs. These groups bring together technical assistance, access to capital, connections to manufacturers and early customer validation.
Adding to this momentum is the recent launch of the Ohio Innovation Hubs — state-supported centers of excellence that focus on regional strengths. Whether it’s glass in Toledo, polymers and advanced materials in Akron, or advanced manufacturing and national defense in Youngstown, these hubs represent strategic investments in the sectors where Ohio already has a competitive edge.
This is Ohio’s right to win, but we must act like it. That means investing in infrastructure that supports prototype development and scale-up. It means aligning our workforce development systems with the needs of hardtech industries. It means ensuring early-stage capital is available not just on the coasts, but here in the Midwest where great ideas are born and built.
Hardtech is not for the faint of heart. It’s complex. It takes time. But Ohio has the patience, the persistence and the know-how. And if we continue to align our assets and commit to the long game, we won’t just compete in hardtech, we’ll lead it. ●
Jessica Sublett is President and CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub
