Dakota Bioproducts Innovation Institute
In response to challenges from both the private sector and the state, two South Dakota universities have stepped up to create an innovative public-private partnership that will marry research and commercialization for the bioproducts sector.
The POET Bioproducts Institute will be a 45,000-square foot specialized laboratory facility that will open mid-2023 at South Dakota State University’s (SDSU) Research Park in Brookings. The institute is the product of a partnership between SDSU and South Dakota Mines, made possible by a $5 million gift from POET, as well as $20 million in legislative funding, $2 million from South Dakota Corn, and additional annual funding from the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council and the state.
According to SDSU President Barry Dunn, the idea has been brewing for quite some time.
“Over the last eight years or so, Jeff Broin [POET’s Founder and CEO] and Jeff Lautt [POET’s President and COO] have been challenging SDSU to be more proactive and relevant in the biofuels and bioproducts arena, and in 2019, at Governor Noem’s State of the State address, she challenged the people in this state to come up with a bold idea,” he said.
POET, South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines held a groundbreaking ceremony for the POET Bioproducts Institute at the Research Park at SDSU Wednesday. From left, are Dwaine Chapel, executive director of the Research Park at South Dakota State University; Jeff Lautt, president and chief operating officer at POET; Jim Rankin, president, South Dakota Mines; Barry Dunn, president, South Dakota State University; David Salem, professor of chemical and biological engineering and nanoscience and nanoengineering, South Dakota Mines; Daniel Scholl, vice president of research and economic development, South Dakota State University; Kevin Tetzlaff, president and CEO, First Bank & Trust Brookings, and member of the SDSU Growth Partnership board of directors; Jeff Partridge, South Dakota Board of Regents; and Ralph Davis, vice president for research, South Dakota Mines.
Key Facility Features
43,510 sf – Building
3,776 sf – Highbay Pilot Plant
6 – Bioprocessing labs
5 – Labs
8 – Private offices
3 – Hoteling
2 – Open offices: 735 sf and 2,454 sf
2 – Collab spaces
3 – Conference rooms
5,600 sf -Growth area: 6 future labs, 2 future offices
