March 2026
The Power To Do
Glass Industry Innovation
Bolstering the Glass City’s Manufacturing Expertise
Toledo boasts a rich science and engineering heritage as the Glass City.
As a leading academic partner of the Northwest Ohio Glass Innovation Hub, established with a $31.3 million investment by the Ohio Department of Development in 2024, The University of Toledo is advancing this legacy by aligning the research needs of glass industry giants headquartered in the region with the research capacity of a world-class R1 research institution.
UToledo's Dr. Donghui Zhao is the glass expert connecting academia and industry.
In addition to leading a team of campus researchers in projects proposed and supported by glass manufacturing partners, Zhao is developing uniquely tailored courses and experiential opportunities in a new materials science undergraduate degree program that prepares students for high-demand careers in research, development and fabrication, leveraging UToledo’s strengths in glass and solar energy technology innovation.
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Materials Science Expertise
U.S. News & World Report ranked UToledo in the top quarter of universities in materials science in 2025, in large part reflecting consistently ground-breaking research into thin-film solar cell technology out of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization. The college will leverage this strength in materials science in a new undergraduate degree program set to enroll its first cohort in Fall 2026.
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