The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research

What The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research does

The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research (IMR) is an administrative research unit within The Ohio State University's College of Engineering, founded in 2006 to coordinate and accelerate multidisciplinary materials science and manufacturing research across the university. Operating as the gateway to Ohio State's materials-allied research enterprise, IMR manages a network of core facilities including the Battery Cell R&D Center (22,000 sq ft with 4,000 sq ft dry room), Nanotech West Laboratory (36,000 sq ft for semiconductor fabrication), the Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS), the Semiconductor Epitaxy and Analysis Laboratory (SEAL), the NanoSystems Laboratory, the Center for Advanced Semiconductor Fabrication Research and Education (CAFE), and the NSF National Extreme Ultrafast Science Facility (NSF NeXUS). Signature research areas span characterization and computational modeling, electronic and photonic materials, emergent materials, next-generation energy technologies, and processing and prototyping, anchored by capital-intensive shared assets such as an EBPG 5150 Plus electron beam lithography system with sub-8nm resolution and first-in-the-U.S. ultrafast laser capability.

IMR serves four primary constituencies: Ohio State faculty and graduate students who access seed funding, shared facilities, and proposal-development support; industry partners including Honda (25-year foundational partner with over $130M in cumulative giving and 400+ research projects), Schaeffler (all-solid-state batteries), and Coatema (battery coating equipment); federal agencies including NSF, DOD, DOE, NIST, and AFRL; and student interns participating in programs such as BATTERI and MNVP. Revenue mechanics are not commercial; the institute is funded through a mix of federal research grants, industry-sponsored research, state and regional economic-development support (JobsOhio, State of Ohio), facility user fees, and university allocations. Notable recent capital commitments include a $22M Battery Cell R&D Center (Honda $15M, NIST $4.5M), a $26M NSF TARDISS Engineering Research Center, a $12M NSF NeXUS award, and a $5.5M AFRL SPACE-Mat Center of Excellence, positioning Ohio State 12th nationally in research expenditures and 6th in industry-sponsored research.

Strategically, IMR is institutional rather than transactional: it competes for grants, recruits faculty, builds industry partnerships, and houses experiential learning programs. Its go-to-market is principally grant capture and long-cycle industry collaboration, with distributed research communication via annual Materials and Manufacturing Conferences (15th in 2026), a Distinguished Lecture Series, and Ohio State central communications. International expansion is anchored by the IIT Bombay-Ohio State Frontier Science and Engineering Research Center and a Government of Maharashtra energy initiative, and commercialization is enabled through named entities including SK Infrared (founded by faculty), Innovation Lab pathways, and VC engagement via SOSV. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Steven Ringel, with Jay Sayre as Director of Innovation and BATTERI Lead Principal Investigator, and Associate Directors David McComb, Fengyuan Yang, and formerly Michael Groeber, who transitioned to SIMCenter directorship.

Name

The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research

Legal name

The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research

Website

https://imr.osu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research (IMR), founded 2006, manages a network of multidisciplinary materials science and manufacturing research facilities, including the Battery Cell R&D Center, Nanotech West Lab, CEMAS, and NSF NeXUS. It serves Ohio State researchers, federal agencies (NSF, DOD, DOE, NIST), and industry partners including Honda, Schaeffler, and Coatema via grants and partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Materials Research Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Materials science research
• Semiconductor fabrication
• Battery technology development
• Electron microscopy analysis
• Manufacturing research

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Research Grants: Primary funding from federal agencies including NSF, DOD, Department of Energy for research programs, center operations, and facility support. Ohio State received over $1.58 billion in research expenditures for FY2024.
2. Industry Partnership Funding: Foundational and sponsored research partnerships with companies like Honda ($15M), Schaeffler, Coatema, and others for battery research, semiconductor development, and workforce training programs.
3. State and Regional Funding: Support from Ohio state agencies, JobsOhio, and regional economic development entities for industry partnerships and workforce development.
4. User Facility Fees: Fee-based access to shared research facilities including core facilities, labs, and equipment for academic and industrial researchers.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR) facilitates, promotes, and coordinates multidisciplinary materials and manufacturing research at The Ohio State University. IMR provides shared research infrastructure, seed grant funding, management of core facilities and centers, faculty recruitment support, industry partnership facilitation, and experiential learning programs spanning battery technology, semiconductor fabrication, electron microscopy, and quantum materials research.

Product overview

The Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR) at The Ohio State University operates as a multi-disciplinary research enterprise that manages a network of research centers, core facilities, and experiential learning programs. The institute's portfolio includes the Battery Cell R&D Center (a 22,000-square-foot facility for advanced EV battery research), Nanotech West Laboratory (a 36,000-square-foot semiconductor fabrication facility), the Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS), the Semiconductor Epitaxy and Analysis Laboratory (SEAL), the NanoSystems Laboratory, the CAFE semiconductor fabrication center, the IIT Bombay-Ohio State Frontier Center for international research collaboration, and the NSF NeXUS ultrafast laser facility. IMR also operates the BATTERI experiential learning program for clean-tech battery manufacturing workforce development, and provides seed funding through its Kickstart Facility Grant Program. The institute serves as a gateway to Ohio State's materials-allied research enterprise, supporting multidisciplinary researchers, capabilities, focus groups, and centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Battery Cell R&D Center A 22,000-square-foot research facility focused on accelerating domestic development of battery cell materials and manufacturing technologies for electric vehicles, including a 4,000-square-foot dry room for moisture-sensitive battery cell assembly. Open to academic and industry users.
• Nanotech West Laboratory A 36,000-square-foot shared user facility providing semiconductor fabrication, etching, and assembly capabilities for the Ohio State materials community, open to both academic and industrial researchers.
• Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis (CEMAS) Core facility providing electron microscopy and analysis services for materials research.
• Semiconductor Epitaxy and Analysis Laboratory (SEAL) Laboratory focused on semiconductor epitaxy and analysis research and services.
• NanoSystems Laboratory Core facility for nanosystems research and fabrication.
• Center for Advanced Semiconductor Fabrication Research and Education (CAFE) A center focused on semiconductor fabrication research and education, preparing students for careers in the semiconductor industry including Intel partnerships.
• NSF NeXUS (NSF National Extreme Ultrafast Science Facility) A first-in-the-U.S. high-power ultrafast laser facility enabling researchers to study chemical and material dynamics on the scale of atoms and electron motion. Open to researchers worldwide.
• BATTERI (Bridging Academic Training Through Experiential Research and Innovation) An NSF-funded experiential learning program providing pathways for individuals in STEM fields to enter the clean-tech battery manufacturing workforce, combining entrepreneurial mindset training with hands-on lab experience in battery and EV manufacturing.
• IIT Bombay-Ohio State Frontier Science and Engineering Research Center A joint research center with IIT Bombay building on both institutions' strengths in renewable energy, electronics, photonics, materials, and quantum information technology; includes a dual PhD program.
• Kickstart Facility Grant Program Seed funding program that offsets costs of user fees and access fees for shared campus research facilities to demonstrate materials-related research results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300% improvement in thermal conductivity using electric field method to control heat flow in ceramic materials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Coatema Coating Machinery GmbHmajorTechnology or Integration · 29 July 2024Germany-based equipment manufacturer sponsoring acquisition of Click&Coat battery cell coating system for Battery Center. Partnership enables technology exchange, demonstration capabilities, and training with Coatema R&D teams.
• next Machinery GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 July 2024Coatema's North American distributor specializing in coating, printing, and lamination solutions for battery, fuel cells, and solar technologies. Supporting Battery Center with multiple donations and industry connections.
• HondacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Honda serves as lead foundational partner for Battery Cell R&D Center with $15 million commitment. Partnership spans over 25 years producing more than $130 million in philanthropy and sponsored research, supporting over 400 research projects and thousands of student internships.
• Schaeffler AmericascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Foundational partner for battery cell research center, developing next-generation all solid-state battery technology to support automotive industry's transition to electric mobility. Strategic collaboration with hands-on approach.
• AmgenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Amgen STEM Learning Center for first- and second-year students. Collaborates with Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence providing students hands-on industry experience on real-world projects.
• JobsOhiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development organization endorsing Battery Cell R&D Center project and supporting Ohio's positioning as leader in battery technology and EV manufacturing.
• IIT BombaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research center (IIT Bombay-Ohio State Frontier Science and Engineering Research Center) building on both institutions' strengths in renewable energy, electronics, photonics, materials, and quantum information technology. Includes dual PhD program.
• Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MMEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio State leads collaboration with industry and government partners on CENTROID project for Microelectronics Commons. IMR operates Microelectronics Innovation and Technology Cluster (MITEC) as core MMEC hub infrastructure.
• Attollo EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in CENTROID project focusing on electromagnetic warfare and infrared detector technology development.
• IQE USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in CENTROID project for semiconductor materials and device development.
• SK InfraredmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup company co-founded by Professor Sanjay Krishna, focused on defense, aerospace and commercial applications of infrared imaging; industry partner in CENTROID project.
• Senseeker EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in CENTROID project for infrared detector technology.
• U.S. Navy Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane DivisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in CENTROID project for defense microelectronics development.
• Oak Ridge National LaboratorymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on electric field method to control heat flow in materials, achieving nearly 300% improvement in thermal conductivity.
• University of ChicagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Giulia Galli on quantum materials research, studying nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond for quantum computing applications.
• California Institute of TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in TARDISS Engineering Research Center for domestic natural rubber production.
• North Carolina State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in TARDISS Engineering Research Center.
• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry stakeholder supporting TARDISS ERC for natural rubber production research and technology translation.
• Florida International UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with NSF NeXUS for training in ultrafast science technologies and research.
• Central State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with NSF NeXUS for training in ultrafast science technologies and research.
• Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with NSF NeXUS for training in ultrafast science technologies and research.
• Government of MaharashtramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational government partner in energy technology initiative with Frontier Center and Ernst & Young for energy storage, green hydrogen, and photovoltaic research.
• Ernst & YoungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partner in energy technology initiative in India with Frontier Center and Government of Maharashtra.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory): DOE national laboratory with major energy materials, solar, and battery research programs; comparable to IMR's next-generation energy signature area as a federally funded, facility-intensive energy materials research institution.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: DOE national laboratory with major materials and manufacturing research initiatives; directly comparable to IMR through active research collaboration on electric field control of heat flow in materials, and shares the federal-grant-driven, multidisciplinary model.
• Argonne National Laboratory: U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory with leading materials science and battery research programs; comparable to IMR as a federally funded, multidisciplinary research hub with significant capital-intensive facilities and industry partnership programs (including IMR collaboration on thermal conductivity research).

Direct peers

• IIT Bombay - IITB-Ohio State Frontier Center: Joint research partner of IMR through the IIT Bombay-Ohio State Frontier Science and Engineering Research Center; comparable as a peer university materials research enterprise with its own shared facilities and industry engagement in India.
• Penn State Materials Research Institute: University materials research institute with nanofabrication and electron microscopy core facilities; comparable to IMR as a peer public-university institute competing for the same NSF and DOD materials research funding.
• Georgia Tech Institute for Materials: University materials research institute; comparable to IMR in scale, federal funding profile, and industry partnership orientation.
• MIT Materials Research Laboratory: University-based materials research institute offering shared facilities, seed funding, and multidisciplinary programs — a near-direct functional analog to IMR, with similar industry partnership models and federal grant dependence.
• Stanford Stanford Nano Shared Facilities / Materials Science & Engineering: Elite university materials research program with extensive shared user facilities and semiconductor/battery research focus; comparable to IMR in operating model, though with greater venture and industry commercialization density.
• University of Michigan - Michigan Materials Research Institute: Big Ten peer public-university materials research institute with shared facilities and industry partnerships; comparable in scale, federal funding mix, and automotive industry connections to IMR.
• Caltech Materials Science & Engineering: University materials research program; IMR is a TARDISS ERC partner with Caltech on domestic natural rubber production, indicating a structured research relationship and a directly comparable operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ohiostateimr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OhioStateUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/OhioStateIMR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-materials-research
• Instagraminstagram.com/theohiostateuniversity
• TikToklnk.bio/ohiostate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Ohio State University Institute for Materials Research