NRRI Unveils First-of-Its-Kind DRI Simulator to Future-Proof Domestic Steel Production

Ribbon cutters in an industrial garage with chairs for audience.

Driving the future of iron and steel: Ribbon cutters gather at NRRI's Coleraine Labs for the DRI Simulator unveiling on July 30, 2026. NRRI's DRI Simulator allows researchers to replicate complex shaft furnace reduction processes at pilot scale. Read more.

News Release — NRRI is set to deliver a major new technological capability to the Iron Range with a pilot-scale Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) Simulator.

This event has been cancelled due to air quality conditions in NE Minnesota. 

The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) announces the MITI FORUM: Twin Cities — From Strategy to Deployment, a p

We're Focused on the Future

Minnesota’s northern forests are facing a synergistic threat: invasive pests killing trees, hotter and drier climate increasing wildfire potential and those dead trees providing more and more fuel. NRRI is addressing this with a synergistic solution: turn that fire fuel into biochar and use it to enhance soils. Learn more

In Minnesota, we take sulfate seriously. Especially to protect sensitive wild rice habitat. To meet the state’s low sulfate standards, NRRI has developed multiple processes that can inexpensively reduce sulfate concentrations in a variety of wastewaters and for varying sulfate levels. Learn more

Purpose-Driven Research Initiatives

To meet our mission of delivering integrated research solutions, NRRI is focused on three strategic initiatives that address the challenges of Minnesota’s resource-based economy. These initiatives are bold and long-term efforts to create the economy of the future by incorporating diverse expertise across NRRI, the University system and with our partners.


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