1 

David W. Pluymers Intellectual Property Coordinator

Industry Engagement Lead

GLBRC Technology Transfer and Industry Engagement

www.glbrc.org  2 

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC)

One of three DOE-funded bioenergy research centers (BRCs)

Approximately $25 million/year Started in October of 2007 Recently submitted a renewal

application for another 5 years of funding (2012 – 2017)

www.glbrc.org  3 

GLBRC’s Mission:

Perform the basic research that generates technology to sustainably convert cellulosic (“non-food”) biomass to liquid transportation fuels (ethanol and other advanced biofuels).

www.glbrc.org  4 

GLBRC’s Strategic Position:

High risk and potentially high reward research.

Fundamental research that is relevant and informed.

www.glbrc.org  5 

Our Member Institutions

~400 scientists & staff across 10 Universities, 2 DOE labs & 1 company

www.glbrc.org  6 

Research Roadmap

www.glbrc.org  7 

GLBRC’s Four Research Areas:

Improving Plant Biomass Improving Biomass Processing Improving Biomass Conversion to

Fuels Creating Sustainable Bioenergy

Practices

www.glbrc.org  8 

Plant Breeding Plant Oils Genetics Pathway Engineering (Lignin and Hemicellulose) Metabolic Flux Analysis Structural Biology

www.glbrc.org  9 

Pretreatment – Ammonia Fiber Explosion (AFEX)

Pretreatment – Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP)

High-Throughput Enzymology

Genomics

www.glbrc.org  10 

Synthesis of Fuels - Alcohols Synthesis of Fuels – Oils Toxin Resistance Consolidated Bioprocessing Chemical Engineering of

Biofuels

www.glbrc.org  11 

Novel Productions Systems Improved Plant-Microbe Interactions Biogeochemical Analyses Biodiversity Analyses Bioeconomic Analyses Modeling and Life Cycle

Assessment

www.glbrc.org  12 

Industry Engagement

Establish a clear understanding of industry needs. Encourage industry to partner with GLBRC. Integrate into the larger industry-related biofuels

community. Create a seamless flow from research to industry.

www.glbrc.org  13 

Commercialization of Technologies

Different levels of research partnerships: Non-funded research collaborations. Sponsored research. Fee for service activities (instrumentation, high

throughput screening, Enabling Technology platforms).

Research Output - Inventions

www.glbrc.org  14 

www.glbrc.org  15 

GLBRC Technologies: GLBRC Website http://www.glbrc.org/industry/technologies

www.glbrc.org  16 

GLBRC Technologies: DOE Innovation Portal https://techportal.eere.energy.gov/lab/GLBRC

www.glbrc.org  17 

GLBRC Technologies: Pfleger & Lennen

GLBRC Invention/Patent Application: Hydrocarbon Production from Fatty Acid Accumulation

www.glbrc.org  18 

GLBRC Tech Transfer & Commercialization

Basic Research 

              

Commercial Produc@on 

Biofuels/Jobs 

GLBRC Technologies 

Imagining 

Incuba@ng 

Demonstra@ng 

Market Entry 

Scaling Up 

Commercializing 

Licensing 

Innova@ng 

Pilo@ng 

De‐Risking 

www.glbrc.org  19 

Thank You

David W. Pluymers Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center 608-890-2194 dpluymers@glbrc.wisc.edu www.glbrc.org