MN Renewable Energy Roundtable
March 14, 2018
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join AURI in an event dedicated to Renewable Chemicals
With Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Toby Ahrens
National Program Leader
Agricultural Bioproducts, National Institute of Food and Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture

AGENDA
Registration, refreshments and networking
Welcome and overview
Keynote Speaker:  Dr. Toby Ahrens, National Program Leader, NIFA-USDA “Opportunities with NIFA”
Sun Grant Panel
Moderator:  Dr. Vance Owens, Regional Director, North Central Regional Sun Grant Ctr., SDSU “Sun Grant Funding for Renewable Chemicals”
Panelists:

• Dr. Gregg Johnson, Associate Professor, Dept. of Agronomy & Plant Genetics, Biomass Cropping Systems, Southern Research and Outreach Center-Waseca, University of Minnesota “Feedstock Development for Renewable Chemicals and Other Bioenergy”
• Dr. Goutham Vemuri, Chief Technologist, Sasya LLC “Developing Renewable Chemicals from Crop Residues from Biomass Sugars”
• Dr. Qi Hua Fan, Associate Professor, Depts. of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Michigan State University “Energy Storage Options Using Renewable products”

Networking Break 
Bioeconomy Panel
Moderator:  Rod Larkins, Senior Director of Science and Technology, AURI
Panelists: 

• Brendan Jordan, Vice President, Great Plains Institute, Lead Staff for Bioeconomy Coalition of MN
• Dr. Eric Singsaas, Initiative Director-Wood Products and Bioeconomy, NRRI and Entrepreneur

Lunch
Highlight:  Entrepreneur in Renewable Chemicals

• Dr. Goutham Vemuri, Vice President of Technology Development, Aemetis Inc.

Financing and Technology Support Panel
Moderator:  Michael Sparby, Senior Project Strategist, AURI
Panelists:

• Kevin Hennessy, Bioenergy Manager, Ag Marketing and Development Division, MN Department of Agriculture
• Pat Dillon, Director, MN-SBIR, Minnesota Innovation and Commercialization Consortium; Minnesota High Tech Association

Table Discussion
Wrap Up
Register Here