Director's Letter

From Minnesota to the Nation

Fiscal Year 2025 was a year of steady progress and growing national relevance for the Natural Resources Research Institute. In a time marked by economic uncertainty, shifts in technology priorities, and increasing demands on our natural and industrial systems, NRRI remained focused on what we do best: delivering integrated, applied research solutions that serve Minnesota while contributing to challenges of national importance.

We’ve got a great team. NRRI’s staff - researchers, technicians, students, and professional support teams - rose to the year’s challenges with creativity, rigor, and a deep commitment to our mission. Their expertise and dedication enable the Institute to deliver and I am pleased to note that their work reflects NRRI’s core values on a daily basis.

Across our research portfolio (from advanced iron and mineral processing to ecosystem resilience, water quality, and bio-based materials), NRRI researchers advanced technologies from the lab to the pilot scale, generated critical data for decision-makers to address pressing needs encompassing energy, infrastructure, economic opportunity, and long-term environmental stewardship. Our integrated research focus has expanded the scope of our work into nationally relevant, systems-level initiatives. The Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI) exemplifies this evolution where NRRI continues to partner with research, industry, labor, Tribal governments, communities, and policymakers to explore and demonstrate how next-generation industrial systems can be built responsibly and competitively in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

Partnership is core to our impact. In FY25 alone, NRRI engaged with hundreds of business, industry, academic, and public-sector partners – notably our national laboratory partners. These partnerships not only advance technology innovation and reduce risk, but also strengthen regional economies, support workforce development, and ensure that research outcomes are grounded in real-world conditions.

Looking ahead, as part of the University of Minnesota research enterprise, NRRI is well positioned to build on this momentum. As Minnesota and the nation confront the interconnected challenges of resource management, industrial transformation, and societal/environmental resilience, NRRI will continue to partner as a source of applied expertise—connecting science to practice, and innovation to place.

On behalf of the Institute, I extend my thanks to University leadership and to our staff, partners, funders, advisors, and you, the Minnesota communities we serve. Your trust and partnership make this work possible. Together, we are helping discover—and build—the economy of the future.

Onward!

Rolf Weberg

Executive Director, NRRI