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Budzinski and NCERC Team Discuss Advancing the Bioeconomy by Expanding NCERC

On January 30, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski of the Illinois 13th Congressional District visited the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to tour the ethanol research pilot plant that specializes in advancing biofuels. The Congresswoman met with the team behind the fully integrated research facility to discuss its origins and their vision for expansion.

Conceived in 1992, NCERC broke ground on SIUE campus in 2001 and has since secured state funding, federal funding and private contracts that have gone beyond the research and development phase to commercial products. Corn hydrolysates and cellulosic ethanol are just a few of the renewable energy sources NCERC research has put toward everyday use.

“In recent years, I’ve seen the soaring need for new R&D facilities to support the development of the bioeconomy, especially regarding biochemicals and sustainable aviation fuel. With our 20 years of experience, I hope NCERC can be a regional leader on that front,” said Yanhong Zhang, PhD, NCERC Interim Executive Director and Director of Research.

The IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) helped support the launch of the facility. Dave Loos, ICGA Director of Biofuels and Research, shared that NCERC was always meant to be more than a research lab. “What we wanted to do is to take that research off the shelf, tie it in with industry and move it to commercialization, given what’s ready, and that's what this that's why this place is so unique.”

“Which also drives that economic impact,” added Denise Cobb, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. "You're in that stage that can lead to commercialization. It accelerates that process for companies right, that are looking to see, ‘Is this ready for market?’ and, or ‘How does it need to be refined?’ We're at a moment where we need to invest in the infrastructure, where we've outgrown some of our capacities. So, the research here has led to innovation and developments in new patents across the globe.”

Budzinski took a guided tour through the fermentation lab and met members of a talent pipeline the pilot plant has established through internships, student workers and industry partnerships. Since 2003, NCERC has developed partnerships between university researchers, government laboratories, trade organizations and the private sector. 

Designated as a Biorefining Center of Excellence by the Illinois General Assembly, NCERC has contributed to the advancement of more than 100 innovative technologies toward commercial readiness, largely in the corn-to-ethanol industry. The facility operates year-round with cutting edge developments for producing biofuel and bioproducts, which secures NCERC’s status as a biomanufacturing hands-on workforce training center.

To keep up the pace of incoming client contracts, NCERC envisions expanding its facility and its workforce, which means an additional 15,000 square feet to its current workspace and investing in specialized equipment.

“I was thrilled to tour the NCERC facility and meet the research team on the cutting edge of the ethanol industry,” said Budzinski. “This visit reaffirmed that biofuels present an incredible opportunity in our transition to cleaner energy as well as creating markets for corn growers in my district and beyond. As research facilities like NCERC keep making strides on the ground, I’ll keep working in Congress to support and expand biofuel policies that help us all move toward a cleaner future."

Budzinski’s district spans central and southern Illinois. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the Congresswoman is a member of the bipartisan Biofuels Caucus and the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus. She serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs.

NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biotechnologies. Their unique research laboratories house bench- to demonstration-scale bioreactors and pretreatment and downstream processing equipment, making it the perfect partner to companies in the biotechnology industry. Through their contractual research services, NCERC has played an instrumental role in commercializing more than 100 products and technologies that are now used in the commercial marketplace. In addition to its research and development services, NCERC leverages its experienced staff and unique facility to provide a variety of workforce training and education initiatives to train the next generation of bioeconomy professionals.

PHOTO:  U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Yanhong Zhang, PhD, NCERC Interim Executive Director and Director of Research; (bottom row, second left to second right) Dave Loos, ICGA Director of Biofuels and Research, Budzinski, Denise Cobb, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Zhang surrounded by NCERC staff