Enriching Minnesota’s Future Through The Biosciences
Minnesota Lands Renewable Energy Technology Institute
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (April 3, 2008) — The International Renewable Energy Technology Institute (IRETI) Organization Committee announced today that Minnesota, in partnership with Georgia and New York, will host a new exciting renewable energy institute.
The goal of the institute is to encourage the exchange of ideas and technologies in renewable energy and energy efficiency from Sweden into the United States. Efforts will focus on implementing technologies already available and breakthroughs likely to occur within the next two to three years.
U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, Michael M. Wood, established IRETI through an initiative, “The One Big Thing,” to stimulate cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Sweden. “The formation of IRETI recognizes the importance of international collaboration in achieving a breakthrough in renewable energy development. This is an excellent example of the kind of cooperation we need if we are going to reconcile the demands of the world economy with the realities of climate change,” Wood said. Sweden is widely-recognized as an international leader in research, implementation and commercialization of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Today, Sweden supplies 26 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources.
“We have much to learn from Sweden,” commented Minnesota Representative Tim Mahoney. “IRETI is a welcomed addition to Minnesota and provides a powerful mechanism to enhance collaboration between Minnesota, Georgia, New York and Sweden, and ultimately, across the globe. This institution only adds to the strong leadership role Minnesota already plays in renewable energy. We look for great things to come from the applied nature of the institute’s work.”
BioBusiness Alliance™ worked with Minnesota State, Mankato, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Project Leadership Services to bid for the institute. Minnesota was one of 16 states to apply. “We supported this innovative project from the beginning because of the potential it has to create several economic opportunities in Minnesota through international company expansion, business recruitment and job growth,” commented DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy.
The IRETI Organization Committee, in recognition of the different assets and capabilities that resided in each state, decided to create a collaboration between Minnesota, Georgia and New York, the top three candidates. “The collaboration will allow us to have access to people and knowledge from other states and across the globe to facilitate rapid deployment of new technologies,” stated Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of the BioBusiness Alliance™. “We have been impressed with the people and capabilities from the University of New York in Albany, the University of Georgia and our Swedish counterparts. They will make great partners.”
The institute will consist of a nonprofit academic entity and a for-profit entity that is responsible to help transition technology between states and countries. Details of the for-profit entity are forthcoming. Minnesota State, Mankato will host the nonprofit academic consortium in Minnesota in partnership with the University of New York and the University of Georgia. “We have had a long and successful history in the area of applied research for renewable energy on both the consumption side with regard to liquid fuels for engines, energy conservation and on the production side in the areas of fermentation and cellulosic fuels. We look forward to this project with great enthusiasm,” commented Dr. John Frey, Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology at Minnesota State, Mankato.
Funding for IRETI will be shared between state resources, Sweden and the federal government. Senator Coleman and Senator Klobuchar are actively working with the Minnesota team to identify federal level funding.
The bioscience connection between Minnesota and Sweden continues as Mankato hosts International Bioenergy Days (IBED) September 28 through October 3, 2008. For more information on the conference, go to: www.bioenergydays.com.
About The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota™
The BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota™ is an industry-led, action-based 501© (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of bioscience-related industries to create jobs for the citizens of Minnesota.
Contacts:
Melissa Kjolsing, Communications Assistant
mkjolsing@biobusinessalliance.org
952-746-3844
Download IRETI Press Release [.doc, 48.5kb]
Posted on 04/03/2008
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