You're Invited to the

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