Materials and Bioeconomy

Platform Overview

The Materials and Bioeconomy Platform seeks to develop new ideas, materials and products to utilize our forest resources and organic waste streams.

Discovering higher value opportunities in Minnesota’s forest and waste stream resources keeps money in the state and promotes efficient use of resources. This research supports the state’s foundational forest products industry with innovation and new product development.

Research Programs

To advance the economic return from Minnesota's forest harvest by developing value-added products. 

Advancing the low carbon economy by developing methods to convert biomass into energy resources.

To research, develop and commercialize potentially useful natural products

Sustainable building materials development, reuse and testing.

Working to establish a diverse and sustainable industry for Minnesota that serves multiple markets for biochar and bio-carbon materials.

Featured Research Projects

Demonstration of a Thermally Modified Eastern Larch Boardwalk to Catalyze New Markets for Low-value Timber.

Recent News

A man wearing safety PPE stands in front of large industrial equipment.

Advanced degree moves technician into broad arena of project management.

A man swings a large steel cap onto an orange hot vertical kiln.

U.S. Department of Energy and NRRI fund project to develop biocarbon to replace fossil carbon in steelmaking process

A man stands by large wood panel in factory setting.

New materials meet extreme conditions to bring wood innovations into new markets.

NRRI logo

Title: Researcher 6 Biomaterials Research Scientist
Job ID: 359076
Location: Duluth
Job Family: Research-Researchers
Full-Time/Regular

Two men stand in a chemistry lab one holds birch bark the other a brown material

Early NRRI R&D went on ‘rollercoaster ride’ leading to an international effort starring Minnesota’s giving tree, the paper birch
 

Three people wearing safety vests discussing biomaterials in a research facility.

From college coursework to real-world application, Matt Young has built a career on a foundation of wood.