Strategic Partnerships CenTiRe collaborates with Virginia Tech and the University of Akron under NSF I/UCRC, offering co-development opportunities for tire materials, sustainability, and manufacturing research. Businesses can engage as industry members to fund and steer research while gaining access to graduate talent and practical tech transfer.

Industry Advisory Access Active Industry Advisory Board involvement helps members shape research agendas, prioritize projects, and stay at the forefront of tire technology, including intelligent tires and tire/road interactions. This presents a channel for aligned R&D initiatives and early visibility into emerging innovations.

Emerging Tech Pipeline Recent and upcoming projects focus on wireless flexible piezo-polymer sensors for smart tires and dynamic aging/wear coupling, signaling opportunities for automotive suppliers and tire manufacturers to co-develop sensors, materials, and predictive maintenance solutions.

Talent and Recruitment CenTiRe serves as a talent pipeline with graduates and interns from university research programs, offering potential for engineering recruitment, internship partnerships, and skill-building collaborations around advanced tire materials, modeling, and sustainability.

Market Positioning Operating as a pre-competitive research center with industry funding and university capabilities positions CenTiRe to broker joint development, pilot programs, and technology transfers, particularly in sustainability, material characterization, and tire-road dynamics—areas ripe for collaboration with tire, vehicle, and materials suppliers.