Explore NRRI Partnerships
NRRI develops and maintains partnerships throughout Minnesota, the region, the nation and the global community to deliver applied research solutions. NRRI also manages a unique set of physical assets that support discovery research as well as research scale-up and piloting of commercial solutions. As part of the University of Minnesota’s research enterprise, we leverage relationships and expertise from across the University System. Our focus is to integrate research efforts from across the Institute and our partners to provide innovative, quality information, results and commercialization opportunities for diverse stakeholders and clients from industry, business, entrepreneurs, academia, government agencies, NGO’s, and more.
Commercialization Services
Helping research innovations move from lab to market
NRRI Business Services Team meets NRRI's mission to drive economic development in Minnesota. Combining business expertise with technical competency, the Business Services Team strategically manages client relationships, and builds innovative research opportunities for business development across the state.
How can we help you?
Below you can find specific, stakeholder-focused information on working with the Natural Resources Research Institute. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact Patrick Schoff pschoff@d.umn.edu | office (218) 788-2768 for assistance.
Agency: State, Regional and Federal Agencies
Overview
NRRI works closely with agencies on the local, state, federal and international levels. In addition to participating in the Request for Proposal (RFP) grant funding processes, NRRI partners with agencies to provide base data and information to support and verify policy decisions. NRRI’s investments in cutting edge analytical tools for trace organics detection and identification, biomass pyrolysis and metallurgy coupled with extensive field work experience and pilot capabilities make NRRI a valued partner
Contact
Patrick Schoff | email pschoff@d.umn.edu | office (218) 788-2768 for assistance.
Partners
Federal Agency Partners
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- National Science Foundation
- USDA Forest Service
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory
- U.S. Dept. of Energy
- U.S. Dept. of Transportation
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Geological Survey
- National Council of Air & Stream Improvement
Regional Agency Partners
Minnesota Agency Partners
Academic and Research Institutes
Overview
NRRI collaborates broadly with academic institutions and research institutes around the world. As outlined in our charter, part of our mission is to engage faculty, staff and students in translational research to move good ideas forward towards demonstration and commercialization. In partnering with fellow research institutes, NRRI seeks to capitalize on unique strengths of collaborators to leverage investments and accelerate results.
Contact
Patrick Schoff | email pschoff@d.umn.edu | office (218) 788-2768 for assistance.
Partners
- UMN Office of the Vice President for Research
- UMN College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS)
- UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering
- UMD Large Lakes Observatory
- Minnesota Sea Grant
- Central Michigan University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Mississippi State University
- Lakehead University
- Michigan Technological University
- Washington State University
Business and Industry
Overview
NRRI focuses on professional relationships with our industry and business partners. We utilize an extensive Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool to manage these relationships, create project scopes and track projects. The Institute drives strong safety, project management and quality platforms and brings an individualized approach to intellectual property management. NRRI works under service contracts as well as sponsored research project agreements to help industry and business catalyze change, demonstrate solutions and reduce risk to investment. We welcome opportunities to partner with business and industry partners to attract state and federal funding for collaborative projects.
Services for businesses of all sizes
- Technical expertise
- Manufacturing efficiencies
- Product and Process Development
We provide
- Memorandums of Understanding
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Proprietary Reports
- Technology Commercialization and IP Protection
Resources
- University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization
- University of Minnesota Office of the General Counsel
Contact
Tim White, Business Development and Intellectual Property Manager | twwhite@d.umn.edu | (218) 788-2756
Kevin Kangas, Initiative Director - Coleraine Laboratories | kwkangas@d.umn.edu | (218) 788 2635
Entrepreneurs
Overview
Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our emerging economies. Many times, only a little help is needed to launch opportunities. NRRI partners with regional and state economic development entities to support entrepreneurs needing assistance ranging from technical concept evaluation to product testing - all focused on accelerating time to market.
NRRI partners with the Blandin Foundation to support businesses and entrepreneurs in Itasca County and communities of Hill City, Remer, Blackduck, and Northome. We partner with Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to provided technical, R&D, business, and financial expertise to the businesses.
NRRI is also a site for the University of Minnesota LaunchPad, an entrepreneurial support service that offers University support and exposure to regional investment opportunities.
Services for businesses of all sizes
- Technical expertise
- Manufacturing efficiencies
- Product and Process Development
We provide
- Memorandums of Understanding
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Proprietary Reports
- Technology Commercialization and IP Protection
Resources
- University of Minnesota Technology Commercialization
- University of Minnesota Office of the General Counsel
Contact
Tim White, Business Development and Intellectual Property Manager | twwhite@d.umn.edu | (218) 788-2756
Non-Governmental Organizations and Foundations
Overview
NRRI partners with a variety of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) to provide research support services as well as manage larger research projects consistent with organizational objectives. We also welcome opportunities to partner with NGO’s in attracting state and federal grant funding for collaborative projects. The Institute is an unbiased, data-based source of information and assistance for our NGO partners.
Contact
Patrick Schoff | email pschoff@d.umn.edu | office (218) 788-2768 for assistance.
Partners
- National Audubon Society
- Blandin Foundation
- Otto Bremer Foundation
- U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities
Integrated Expertise, Scale-up Capabilities, UMN Research Enterprise
Our Unique Value Proposition
- Integrated platforms: Covering water, wildlife, forest, energy and materials, NRRI’s research platforms collaborate to create comprehensive solutions for our partners.
- Expertise: NRRI has engineers, scientists and technicians that are subject matter experts with considerable industry experience to develop and execute scopes of work that deliver timely, accurate and reliable results.
- Collaboration: NRRI’s team is skilled at collaborating with industry, academia, consulting companies, other laboratories, equipment suppliers and other stakeholders to develop and deliver scopes of work.
- Operations, engineering, and maintenance: NRRI has staff to support project engineering, equipment specification / modification, fabrication, assembly and test program execution from laboratory to pilot demonstration scale.
- Scale-up Capabilities: NRRI's research lab to pilot scale capabilities decrease the risk of development and control costs for clients.
- Project Management Excellence: proposals are turned into project control plans that provide clear expectations to the team for disciplined project execution.
- Operations, engineering, and maintenance: staffed to support project engineering, equipment specification / modification, fabrication, assembly and end-to-end test program execution at the bench, pilot and industrial demonstration scales.
- “Stage gate” project management: milestone data reporting and meetings with clients for project control and optimization.
- On-Site Analytical Labs: Unbiased, accurate and repeatable testing using ASTM and ISO procedures for quick data turnaround.
- Building Infrastructure: Buildings with open floor space and utilities required for the operation of pilot mineral processing flowsheets.
- The University of Minnesota (UMN) Research Enterprise: As a research unit within the UMN system, NRRI has access to additional technical expertise, capabilities and the UMN library.
Recent News
Industry partner gets NRRI assistance to add value and improve byproduct for more efficient use.
U.S. Department of Energy awards NRRI $2.1M to research Minnesota’s iron products for expanded steelmaking markets.
Manufacturing association turns to NRRI to test trending wall-mounted cabinets.
NRRI and industry partner receive patent on a first step invention that can lead to sulfate remediation in water systems.
NRRI paves the way for 'waste rock' to become high value aggregate resource for local roads.