SDSU cooperates with School of Mines in Bioenergy Center

South Dakota State University
09/05/2008

South Dakota State University scientists will collaborate with peers from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and elsewhere in a new National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/ University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) in bioenergy: The Center for Bioenergy Research and Development.

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will be the host institution for the center, a consortium of universities, industrial partners and governmental agencies.

The center will receive substantial funding at the multimillion-dollar level from both the National Science Foundation and sponsoring industries.

“SDSU is pleased to be a founding member of this Bioenergy I/UCRC, which will be the only biomass energy related center funded by NSF,” SDSU professor Bill Gibbons said. “South Dakota has a long track record of leadership in biofuels, dating back to the late 1970s, when we operated the first corn ethanol research facility. With investments from our commodity groups, farmers, and investors, South Dakota has grown to be one of the nation’s leading corn ethanol producers. Research in the Bioenergy Center will focus on creating similar breakthroughs in converting lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol.”

Read the full story