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/UNIVERSITY OF 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

Timeline (2003-2005)

Explore

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

2003 Seminar

Minn

2004 Seminar Norway

Support ResearchMN, Nor

2005 Seminar

Minn

Create Teams

“Road map”Make Plans Obtain funds Provide

Updates

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

Timeline (2003-2005)

Explore

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

2003 Seminar

Minn

2004 Seminar Norway

Support ResearchMN, Nor

2005 Seminar

Minn

Create Teams

“Road map”Make Plans Obtain funds Provide

Updates

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

Timeline (2003-2005)

Explore

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

2003 Seminar

Minn

2004 Seminar Norway

Support ResearchMN, Nor

2005 Seminar

Minn

Create Teams

“Road map”Make Plans Obtain funds Provide

Updates

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

Forskergruppe Prosj.leder ved UMB

Kostnad kNOK

Næringsliv i Norge

Område Tildelt kNOK

1. Genomic studies of patho genic bacteria related to food safety and animal and human health

Ingolf Nes 650’ TINE baBoviBank as

Mattrygghet 388’

2. Functional genomics to advance dairy cattle health

Sigbjørn Lien 680’ Geno asBoviBank as

Mattrygghet 406’

3. Mycotoxin prevention in cereal crops by enhanced host plant resistance

Åsmund Bjørnstad 600 Graminor as Mattrygghet 358’

4. Developing and testing airborne LiDAR-based sampling procedures for regional forest biomass and carbon estimation

Erik Næsset 750’ Prevista as Bioenergi 448’

5. Bioenergy based on forest and agriculture resources – ecological, technical and economic potential in Norway and Minnesota with emphasis on carbon sequestration impacts and rural value added

Birger Solberg 750’ Statkraft asPrevista as

Bioenergi 448’

6. Liquefaction of biomass for biofuel production Petter Heyerdahl 680’ X-waste as BioenergiBioprodukter

406’

Timeline (2003-2005)

Explore

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

2003 Seminar

Minn

2004 Seminar Norway

Support ResearchMN, Nor

2005 Seminar

Minn

Create Teams

“Road map”Make Plans Obtain funds Provide

Updates

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 InitiativesIV. Project PlansV. 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”

Timeline (2005-2007)

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Establish Centennial

Chair

2006 Workshop Norway

Provide Updates

Appoint Centennial

chairs

Plan 2007 conference

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.

Bilateral Agreement

Transatlantic Research Teams incl. Bachelor-, Master-, PhD- and

PostDoc-students

UMN UMB

Otheruniversities

Executive Committee

Chair-holder

Chair-holder

Otheruniversities

Industry Industry

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

Timeline (2005-2007)

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Establish Centennial

Chair

2006 Workshop Norway

Provide Updates

Appoint Centennial

chairs

Plan 2007 conference

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

Source: TopScan, Germany

• 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)

Major Objectives – LiDAR Research

2. Inventory of forest resources for operational forest management

3. Regional and national procedures for forest biomass and carbon monitoring

1. Net primary production and carbon sequestration

Procedures for resource inventory

for improvedmanagement

Biomassand

carbonassess-ment inQuebec

NationalForest

Inventoryin Norway

IREE initiative

in MN

Forest resourceinventory inWisconsin

Assessing wood quality of forest

resources

Forest resourceinventory in

Canada

Linking soil organic

carbon pools and below-ground

carbon

Estimating borealforest

biomass from NASA

Icesat LiDAR

Team 6: Biofuel production through hydrothermal treatment and microwave assisted pyrolysis of biomass

Biomass

Transport Central Processing Facility (CPF)

On-Site or Mobile Processing

Facility (OMPF)

Products

Densified ChemicalFeedstock (DCF)

Bulk Biomass Refining

New concept: Combined “On-site” and Central processing

Pilot Reactor at UMB

Continuous Microwave Assisted Pyrolysis Reactor at Norwegian University of Life Sciences

3 x1.5 kW generators

Screw reactor 2.5 m x 25 cm Ø

Gas output to distillation

Feedstock hopper

Waveguide

Possible New Initiatives

• Enzyme-based lignin processing – “Lignocellulose to Biofuel”

• Climate• Arctic research• Multiple stressors

Timeline (2005-2007)

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Establish Centennial

Chair

2006 Workshop Norway

Provide Updates

Appoint Centennial

chairs

Plan 2007 conference

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