KSU dedicates new research park; World's leader in LCD studies, development to invite companies to work with researchers on new technology

BYLINE: Paula Schleis, Beacon Journal business writer

The emerging field of flexible liquid crystal displays -- futuristic technology that will impact everything from publishing to fashion in the next few years -- has a new ``Ground Zero.''

Kent State University, the world's leader in LCD research and development for 40 years, dedicated its new Centennial Research Park on Friday.

Located in a 44,000-square-foot former bus garage and surrounded by 10 undeveloped acres off state Route 59 east of the campus, the research park will invite companies to work with university researchers to bring new technology to market.

The anchor tenant will be FlexMatters Accelerator, a new regional partnership determined to keep the global industry centered here to benefit Northeast Ohio.

KSU President Lester Lefton said the facility is not a place for secret research behind closed doors, but for ``tenants who want to join intellectual forces.'' Companies will have access to scientists at KSU's Liquid Crystal Institute as well as a student body eager for internship and employment opportunities.

Traditional liquid crystal displays were perfected and commercialized by Kent State in the 1960s and have been commonly used for wristwatches, television sets and computer screens. Until now, the products had to be rigid and made of glass.

But area companies spun from KSU's research efforts and benefiting from polymer work at the University of Akron have learned how to put liquid crystal between thin sheets of bendable plastic, with a computer chip that alters the image at will.

Kent Displays, for one, is looking for partners to turn the new technology into everything from electronic paper (where books and newspapers can be read from a single sheet of plastic) to smart credit cards (that flash a unique security number for each purchase).

Kent company AlphaMicron already is selling a ``digital lens'' on ski goggles that adjust for light and auto mirrors that eliminate glare.

Kent Displays and AlphaMicron are among several companies that have joined FlexMatters Accelerator, a brain trust supported through a $900,000 grant from an Ohio economic development funding program called the Third Frontier.

FlexMatters grew from a collaboration between KSU and the regional technology advocates, NorTech. KSU research vice president John West served a fellowship with NorTech to design the accelerator, which will work with companies to produce a new generation of advanced materials.

Joel Domino, president of Kent Displays, said that while the focus at the facility will be on research, he and others hope the manufacturing side of the industry will grow here as well.

Currently, rigid LCDs are made in Asia and that's unlikely to change, but flexible LCDs use an entirely different process.

``These materials don't exist yet, and we hope we can get it done here,'' Domino said.

Lefton said he started thinking about the research park soon after coming to Kent last year.

As he became involved with groups working to turn the region's old industrial economy to high tech, it seemed a worthy mission for valuable KSU property that was underused.

``It's the right time, the right leaders, the right place,'' he said. ``You don't want to let the moment slip by.''

Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com