By Andi Anderson
Ohio State University has been awarded $26 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to lead the “Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security” (TARDISS) Engineering Research Center (ERC).
The funding aims to develop a domestic natural rubber industry and enhance workforce training, with the potential for an additional $26 million in five years.
TARDISS will spearhead the production of alternative natural rubber using domestic crops like guayule, rubber dandelions, and mountain gum, aiming to reduce reliance on imported rubber.
The center is designed to become the “Silicon Valley of Domestic Natural Rubber Production” and will focus on integrating engineering, biology, and agriculture. This initiative will create new jobs, train a skilled workforce, and help secure the U.S. rubber supply chain.
Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. emphasized the university's role in leveraging research and partnerships to support local communities and industries.
Judit Puskas, a professor at Ohio State and principal investigator of the grant, will lead TARDISS, supported by experts and industry stakeholders, including The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society.
The project addresses challenges facing global rubber production, such as diseases affecting the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, which threatens the primary source of natural rubber.
The establishment of TARDISS will help the U.S. mitigate risks associated with global supply disruptions and position itself as a leader in sustainable rubber production.
With TARDISS headquartered at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the center will collaborate with universities and industry partners nationwide to translate scientific discoveries into practical applications that enhance the U.S. rubber industry.
Photo Credit: ohio-state-university
Categories: National