What follows are the most frequently asked questions of NorTech. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
Does NorTech receive money from the state?
NorTech is funded by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Fund for Our Economic Future. It doesn’t receive state or federal funding. It does advocate on behalf of other organizations seeking state and federal assistance.
Does NorTech invest in technology companies?
NorTech is an economic development organization, but it doesn’t invest directly in companies. Entrepreneurs interested in obtaining early stage capital should visit the JumpStart Inc. website.
When was NorTech founded?
The Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition “NorTech” was launched in October 1999 as a regional technology coalition, replacing Cleveland Tomorrow’s Technology Leadership Council. NorTech’s mission is to provide leadership to build a more vibrant and globally-competitive economy in Northeast Ohio by linking and leveraging the region’s technology, entrepreneurship and innovation assets. Our shared vision is to have Northeast Ohio be named one of the top ten places in the world to live, learn, work, and invest by the year 2020.
Why was NorTech founded?
NorTech was formed to build on the region’s technology strengths and to align and coordinate the activities of the region’s technology intermediary organizations formed from 1984 to 1992. NorTech was purposely designed to be a leadership organization rather than a membership organization. The organization’s all-volunteer Board is comprised of selected leaders from throughout the region who represent the corporations, research institutions, and intermediary organizations with a vested interest in regional technology-based economic development. This puts NorTech in the unique position of serving as “Strategic Director” for the region’s technology agenda. No other organization can provide the leadership and drive both the focus and the scale needed to meet the technology-based economic development needs of the region. No other organization can serve the same role as independent convener and trusted third party by all when it comes to building a truly regional coalition around a set of issues.
How does NorTech define Northeast Ohio?
NorTech serves citizens in a 21-county area including Ashland, Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Holmes, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, and Wayne counties.
What specific technologies does NorTech work with?
Bioscience/Healthcare; Information and Communication Technologies; Advanced Energy, Power and Propulsion; Nanotechnology; Advanced Materials/Polymers; and Electronics, Instruments and Controls.
Who owns NorTech?
NorTech is an affiliate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, but operates as an independent not-for-profit 501 c 3 organization with it’s own board of directors. Operational funding is primarily provided by both the Greater Cleveland Partnership and The Fund for Our Economic Future.