Duluth, MN—The University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) today announced the launch of a new Joint Research Alliance with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR): Innovative Materials and Processing for Advanced Critical Technologies (IMPACT).
At a time when global competition and supply chain vulnerability are reshaping U.S. industrial strategy, IMPACT will serve as a national platform for industry-scale innovation, translational demonstration, and accelerated deployment of technologies that will secure critical minerals and materials supply chains—powering the next generation of American industry and manufacturing. The alliance pairs NRRI’s place-based, semi-industrial demonstration environments with NLR’s world-class capabilities in energy systems integration, advanced materials, industrial process innovation, and AI-driven high-performance computation and modeling.
IMPACT builds on the previously launched Midwest Industrial Transformation Initiative (MITI), which provides a regional framework for aligning industrial demonstration, workforce development, and supply chain innovation with national competitiveness priorities. The alliance brings national laboratory capabilities into a place-based demonstration ecosystem rooted in Minnesota.
Through demonstration at scale, IMPACT aims to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals and materials by:
- Translating U.S. Department of Energy-supported research into scalable technologies for globally competitive American industry
- Integrating resource processing, advanced materials manufacturing, and energy systems innovation
- Accelerating deployment through industry-scale demonstration environments
- Supporting workforce readiness and community-connected innovation
The alliance is designed as a translational proving ground that integrates semi-industrial testbeds, high-performance computing, and lab-to-pilot infrastructure to move technologies from discovery to deployment.
Quotes from Institutional Leaders
Joanne Billings, Interim Vice President for Research, University of Minnesota
"IMPACT reflects the University of Minnesota’s commitment to connecting world-class research with real-world application. By linking national laboratory capabilities with NRRI’s demonstration environment, we are creating a pathway to accelerate innovation from discovery to deployment—strengthening U.S. competitiveness while delivering tangible benefits for Minnesota and beyond."
Rolf Weberg, Executive Director, Natural Resources Research Institute
"IMPACT reflects NRRI’s state charter and commitment to advancing research that delivers real-world impact and resource stewardship. By pairing NRRI’s unique demonstration facilities with national laboratory scientific excellence, this alliance provides a coordinated research platform to position Minnesota as a national center for next-generation materials, manufacturing, and energy innovation."
Jud Virden, Laboratory Director, National Laboratory of the Rockies
"The National Laboratory of the Rockies is committed to accelerating the technologies that secure America’s industrial and energy future. By partnering with NRRI through IMPACT, we can bridge scientific discovery with full-scale demonstration and create a unified platform that strengthens U.S. supply chains, manufacturing competitiveness, and innovation leadership."
Charles Nies, Chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Duluth
"This partnership positions the region as a national hub for innovation in natural resources and advanced materials, while strengthening the University’s role in preparing the next generation of talent to lead the workforce of the future."
About the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI)
NRRI delivers integrated research solutions that value Minnesota’s resources, environment, and economy for a sustainable and resilient future. With laboratories and demonstration facilities in Duluth and Coleraine, NRRI partners with industry, Tribal Nations, state and federal agencies, and communities to advance innovation in minerals, materials, energy, and ecosystem systems.