MITI Events and Public Engagement

MITI Forum Twin Cities - From Strategy to Deployment

• Date: Thursday, July 09, 2026
• Location: The Lowlands, 160 Wabasha Street South, Saint Paul, MN, 55107

Event Resources

• Event slide deck can be viewed here. 

About the Event

The Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), in partnership with regional and national collaborators, invites you to join our 2026 public gathering focused on new developments on industrial transformation and what it will take to move from strategy into real-world deployment.

Across Minnesota and the nation, momentum is building around next-generation manufacturing, energy systems, industrial innovation, workforce development, and climate technology deployment. But moving from vision to implementation requires more than technology alone. It requires coordination across industry, communities, Tribal Nations, policymakers, investors, labor, researchers, entrepreneurs, and infrastructure systems.

This event will bring together leaders from across those sectors for a fast-paced day of discussion, startup showcases, lightning talks, and collaborative dialogue focused on the future of industrial transformation in Minnesota and beyond.

The MITI Forum Twin Cities will feature

• Update on MITI progress, ecosystem, vision and future direction
• Conversations with industry, utilities, policymakers, climate tech startups, and regional leaders
• Discussions on permitting, workforce, infrastructure, and public trust
• Telling the story: conversations with regional and national voices
• Interactive stakeholder dialogue and networking opportunities

Presenting Sponsors

• UMN Natural Resources Research Institute
• RMI
• Greater MSP Partnership
• Minnesota Conservative Energy Forum
• Fresh Energy
• Grid Catalyst
• Clean Energy Economy MN
• U.S. Energy Foundation

Event Participants

Participants will include representatives from industry, research institutions, climate tech startups, labor, Tribal organizations, government agencies, philanthropy, media, and community organizations.

Event Date

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 

Event Recording

You can view a zoom recording of the event on our YouTube channel. 

Event Presentation

You can view the PPT presentation deck here. 

Bringing together stakeholders in the heart of the Iron Range

The Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI), in collaboration with the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, is convening a stakeholder forum this November, bringing together federal and state lawmakers, industry representatives, tribal and community leaders, researchers, and other stakeholders—all united by a shared goal: to accelerate the Upper Midwest’s role in leading the next generation of industrial innovation.

MITI Forum Goals

• Provide stakeholders with an update on MITI and solicit feedback on future direction
• Position Minnesota as a national leader in industrial transformation, including advanced iron and steel and aviation fuel
• Foster collaboration across sectors—research, industry, government, community
• Identify regulatory and policy barriers
• Drive investment in infrastructure and innovation
• Strengthen the regional supply chain and demand-side coordination