UMB/U NIVERSITY OF M INNESOTA

An evolving partnership between the University of Minnesota (UM) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB):A model for US-Norway research collaboration UMB/UNIVERSITYOF MINNESOTA

Cooperation: an evolving process • Step one: explore mutual interests • Step two: establish research teams, develop “road map” • Step three: support, facilitate team research • Step four: get updates of research,new opportunities • Step five: formally link UM-UMB through a joint endowment • Step six: further updates, student mobility planning, new initiatives • Step seven: appoint co-chairs, begin planning for 2007 conference

Step 1 2003 Seminar Minn Step 2 Explore 2004 Seminar Norway Step 3 Support ResearchMN, Nor Create Teams “Road map” Step 4 2005 Seminar Minn Make Plans Obtain funds Provide Updates Timeline (2003-2005)

Step one: 2003 Research and Technology Seminar at UM The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use: How new technologies, including biotechnology, can provide sustainable solutions

Key Participants • Government – Norway, Minn, US • University admin – UM, UMB,UoO • Faculty – UM, UoO • Industry/NGO – Norway, Minn • Royal Norwegian Consulate

2003 Seminar Topics I. The Environmental Impact of Current Agribusiness Practices II. The Environmental Impact of Different Energy Uses III. Bio-based industrial materials and opportunities IV. Hydrogen as a Fuel from Biological Sources

2003 Seminar Conclusions • Establish bi-lateral research agreements • Hold a follow up seminar in 2004 • Develop cross-country,“virtual” graduate schools in bioenergy/ag • Pursue joint industrial-academic ventures

Step two: 2004 Research and Technology Seminar at Staur Gjestegård, Norway The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use: GENOMICS and BIOMASS / BIOENERGY

2004 Seminar Topics I. R&D Cooperation U.S.-Norway - Goals and Potentials II. Specific Project Areas III. Educational Opportunities IV. Industrial Linkages

Initial Projects • Genomics – animal,plant,food safety • Animal • Microbe • Mycotoxin resistance in cereals • Bioenergy/Bioproduct • Carbon squestration/biomass estim • Economics of bioenergy – forest/agriculture • Biofuel/biorefining

2004 Seminar Conclusions: Developing a “Road Map” VISION Catalyze the formation of “dream teams” who will conduct breakthrough research to provide sustainable solutions within biomass/bioenergy and functional genomics

Milestones • Solicit applications & fund seed grants • Plan, hold next seminar • Develop endowed funding for “Jubilee” chair

Step 3: Support Team Research • Norway – through RCN and Ministries • UM – through IREE and other • Example • Project 6: “Liquefaction of Biomass for Biofuel Production” • Norway/UMB - $500K • UM/IREE - $630K (part of this) • Fund complementary facilities on two campuses

Norway Funding

Step four: 2005 Research and Technology Seminar at UM The Environmental Impact of Agriculture and Energy Use: GENOMICS and BIOMASS / BIOENERGY

2005 Seminar Topics I. Project Updates II. Partnership Opportunities III. New Project Initiatives IV. Project Plans V. Educational and Student Opportunities

Genomics Projects • Project 1: “Genomic Studies of Pathogenic Bacteria Related to Food Safety and Animal and Human Health” • Project 2:“Functional Genomics to Advance Dairy Cattle Health” • Project 3: “Mycotoxin Prevention in Cereal Crops by Enhanced Host Plant Resistance”

Bioenergy/Bioproducts Projects: • Project 4: “Developing and testing airborne LiDAR-Based Sampling Procedures for Regional Forest Biomass and Carbon Estimation” • Project 5: “Bioenergy Based on Forestry and Agricultural Resources: Ecological, Technical, and Economic Potential in Norway and Minnesota with Emphasis on Carbon Sequestration Impacts and Rural Value-Added” • Project 6: “Liquefaction of Biomass for Biofuel Production”

Step 5 Establish CentennialChair Step 6 2006 Workshop Norway Step 7 Provide Updates Appoint Centennial chairs Plan 2007 conference Timeline (2005-2007)

Step five: Establish Norwegian Chair and Fellowship • UM/UMB sign MOU Spring 2006 • Norwegian Centennial Interdisciplinary Chair • Professor at UM or UMB • “Catalyze the formation of ‘dream teams’” • “Biofuels, biobased products, and functional genomics (..food security)” • Fellowship • Graduate level • UM and Norwegian universities

Funding • Norway and the U of M each donate $ 750,000 to the University of Minnesota Foundation. Earnings will provide scholarships, funds to promote the research collaborations, and part-time salaries for chair-holders. • In addition the founders will seek gifts totalling at least $ 250,000 from the Norwegian-American community, which, when combined with a match of UoM funds, will create an endowed Graduate Fellowship Fund. • The research teams must apply for public or private funding for projects.

Transatlantic Research Teams incl. Bachelor-, Master-, PhD- and PostDoc-students Industry Industry Other universities Other universities Bilateral Agreement UMN UMB Chair-holder Chair-holder Executive Committee Chair Model

Chair Tasks • Catalyze the formation of strong research teams and organize annual workshops • Promote the cooperation • Enhance student mobility • Include other universities • Include industry • Report to the Executive Committee

Executive Committee • Appoint chair(s) • Meet twice a year • Membership • Rector of UMB - Hove • Dean of CBS - Elde • External member from Norway - Grue • External member from Minnsota – I. Sorensen

Step six: 2006 Research and Technology Workshop at UMB • Project updates • New initiatives • Breakout sessions • Project planning • Planning for 2007 Academic and Industry workshop • Student mobility

Bioenergy Project Updates/Plans:Highlights • LiDAR-based sampling • UMB – technology • UM – modeling for forests US • Multiple funding Norway/IREE US • Bioenergy economics – just plan • Biofuel/Bioproducts • Integrate/coordinate approaches • Grad student link

Light Detection and Ranging – A Review • LiDAR = laser range finder • Ground elevations • Canopy heights • Structural information • Leaf area • Percent crown cover • Tree stocking density • Advantages • Cost efficient for large areas • High spatial resolution (~30 cm) • Numerous applications • Forest biomass, growth and change detection, carbon exchange • Wildlife habitat • Disturbance (e.g., pests, blowdowns) Source: TopScan, Germany

Major Objectives – LiDAR Research 1. Net primary production and carbon sequestration Linking soil organic carbon pools and below-ground carbon Biomass and carbon assess- ment in Quebec National Forest Inventory in Norway IREE initiative in MN Estimating boreal forest biomass from NASA Icesat LiDAR Procedures for resource inventory for improved management Forest resource inventory in Wisconsin 2. Inventory of forest resources for operational forest management 3. Regional and national procedures for forest biomass and carbon monitoring Assessing wood quality of forest resources Forest resource inventory in Canada

Team 6: Biofuel production through hydrothermal treatment and microwave assisted pyrolysis of biomass Biomass Refining Bulk Biomass Transport Central Processing Facility (CPF) Densified Chemical Feedstock (DCF) On-Site or Mobile Processing Facility (OMPF) Products New concept: Combined “On-site” and Central processing

Pilot Reactor at UMB

Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis Reactor at Norwegian University of Life Sciences Feedstock hopper Gas output to distillation 3 x1.5 kW generators Waveguide Screw reactor 2.5 m x 25 cm Ø

Possible New Initiatives • Enzyme-based lignin processing – “Lignocellulose to Biofuel” • Climate • Arctic research • Multiple stressors

Step seven: Chairs begin, 2007 planning started • Co-chairs – Skjelhaugen (UMB), Sheridan (UM) begin with mobility of students associated with research teams • 2007 Conference planning • UM (May 13-15) • Emphasis on industrial partnerships

Lessons/Directions • Identify “champions” on both sides • Build on mutual research strengths and needs • Provide initial funding • Firm up linkage with jointly-funded endowment, chairs, fellowships • Gradually expand to other related research interests • Add student components • Add industrial component(s) – focus of 2007 seminar

UMB/U NIVERSITY OF M INNESOTA