On May 20, 2026, the Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) hosted its latest Virtual Opportunity Day, convening leaders from government, industry, academia, and economic development organizations to explore the future of advanced manufacturing and the federal research opportunities shaping the nation’s industrial base.
The event focused on the rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape supporting the Department of the Air Force, additive manufacturing innovation, digital transformation, workforce development, and university-industry collaboration. Speakers from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), America Makes, and the Ohio Innovation Exchange (OIEx) shared insights into emerging technologies, manufacturing priorities, and pathways for collaboration across Ohio’s innovation ecosystem.
OFRN Opportunity Days are delivered by Parallax Advanced Research, in collaboration with The Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, and are designed to connect stakeholders with federal research priorities, stimulate new partnerships, and strengthen Ohio’s position in securing competitive federal R&D funding.
Agenda
- OFRN Overview – Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Bartman, USAF, Executive Director, Ohio Federal Research Network, Parallax Advanced Research
- Fabricating the Future Force: Air Force Research Laboratory Strategies in Advanced Manufacturing – Adam Hicks, Branch Technical Advisor, Digital Manufacturing and Supply Chain Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
- America Makes Overview – Alexander Steeb, Senior Operations Director, America Makes
- OIEx Introduction/Overview – Shahwar Ali, Partnership Engagement Manager, Ohio Innovation Exchange
- Opportunity Review – Ryan Blackburn, Ecosystem Engagement Lead – OnRamp Hub: Ohio, Parallax Advanced Research
- Wrap-Up and Q&A
Watch the complete webinar here:
OFRN Overview
(Download the PowerPoint slides here)
The event opened with remarks from Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Bartman, USAF, Executive Director of the Ohio Federal Research Network at Parallax Advanced Research. Bartman highlighted OFRN’s statewide collaborative model and the program’s growing impact across Ohio’s federal research ecosystem. Since its launch, OFRN has supported 48 R&D projects, generated more than $405 million in follow-on funding, created 391 jobs, and engaged more than 211 students through experiential learning opportunities.
Bartman also emphasized OFRN’s role in connecting Ohio universities, industry partners, and federal laboratories—including AFRL, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASIC, NAMRU-D, and the Ohio National Guard—to address critical national security and technology priorities.
Fabricating the Future Force: AFRL Strategies in Advanced Manufacturing
(Download the PowerPoint slides here)
Adam Hicks, Acting Branch Technical Advisor for AFRL’s Digital Manufacturing and Supply Chain Branch, delivered an in-depth overview of the Department of the Air Force ManTech program and its role in accelerating advanced manufacturing capabilities for national defense.
Hicks explained that AFRL’s mission is to “enable the transition of high-value technology to the warfighter through the development of manufacturing for the defense industrial base,” with a focus on accelerating production timelines, strengthening domestic manufacturing capability, and reducing lifecycle costs for defense systems.
The presentation highlighted several manufacturing priority areas critical to future Air and Space Force capabilities, including:
- Agile manufacturing and automation
- Digital materials and manufacturing
- Advanced lightweight structures and composites
- High-speed and hypersonic systems
- Space-unique materials and manufacturing
- Advanced ISR and low SWaP-C technologies
- Spectrum warfare manufacturing capabilities
Hicks also discussed the growing importance of Industry 4.0 technologies, model-based quality assurance, secure digital supply networks, additive manufacturing, robotics, and autonomous production systems in enabling more resilient and responsive defense manufacturing.
Examples of recent AFRL manufacturing successes included hypersonic flight heat pipe demonstrations, advanced composite supply chain development, domestic microelectronics manufacturing advancements, and rapid manufacturing technologies designed to improve operational agility for the warfighter.
America Makes Overview
(Download the PowerPoint here)
Alexander Steeb, Senior Operations Director for America Makes, provided attendees with an overview of the national additive manufacturing innovation institute and its efforts to accelerate adoption of additive manufacturing technologies across industry, academia, and government.
Managed through a cooperative agreement with AFRL, America Makes has grown into a national manufacturing network with 352 members across 43 states and a project portfolio valued at more than $652 million.
Steeb outlined America Makes’ three strategic focus areas:
- Technology development
- Industrial base integration
- Education and workforce development
He emphasized the organization’s role in convening stakeholders, coordinating technical and workforce data, and catalyzing collaborative projects that improve manufacturing readiness and strengthen supply chain resilience.
The presentation also highlighted measurable impacts from America Makes initiatives, including reducing additive manufacturing certification timelines, advancing supply chain readiness programs, and supporting workforce development programs that have reached more than 100,000 learners nationwide.
Steeb noted that significant challenges remain in scaling additive manufacturing technologies, particularly around qualification, repeatability, certification, workforce readiness, and supply chain maturity. Active project calls discussed during the presentation included initiatives focused on additive metals interchangeability, in-situ testing and evaluation, qualification and certification, and advanced aluminum alloy materials development.
Ohio Innovation Exchange Overview
(Download the PowerPoint here)
Shahwar Ali, Partnership Engagement Manager for the Ohio Innovation Exchange (OIEx), introduced attendees to Ohio’s centralized research collaboration platform designed to connect industry with university expertise, intellectual property, laboratory resources, and specialized services across the state.
Ali shared that the platform currently includes:
- 12 partner universities
- More than 13,500 experts
- Over 31,000 patents
- More than 615,000 publications
- More than 2,350 research resources
The presentation highlighted how OIEx helps accelerate innovation partnerships and provides businesses with easier access to Ohio’s academic research capabilities.
Opportunity Review
(Download the PowerPoint slides here)
The Opportunity Review session featured updates on current and upcoming federal manufacturing-related funding opportunities relevant to Ohio’s research and innovation community.
Topics discussed included:
- Recent SBIR/STTR reauthorization updates through 2031
- Emerging Department of Defense manufacturing solicitations
- Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) focused on advanced manufacturing modernization
- DLA Emergent IV research opportunities
- Advanced manufacturing, prototype, and materials opportunities through OUSD(R&E)
Attendees were also directed to federal opportunity resources including SAM.gov, Grants.gov, SBIR.gov, and OFRN support services for matchmaking and proposal development assistance.
Looking Ahead
The May 2026 Opportunity Day reinforced Ohio’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation and highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and academia in strengthening the nation’s defense industrial base.
As advanced manufacturing technologies continue to evolve—from additive manufacturing and digital engineering to autonomous production and resilient supply chains—Ohio organizations remain well-positioned to contribute to the next generation of defense and aerospace innovation.
To learn more about future OFRN Opportunity Days and upcoming funding opportunities, visit ohiofrn.org.
