BUILDING UBC’S BIO-PRODUCTSRESEARCH CLUSTER
James A. Olson, (interim) Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia C AN A D I A N I N S T I T U T E O F F O R E S T R Y – AG M O T T AW A, S E P T 2 7 , 2 0 1 7
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BACKGROUND
• Large-scale federal funding for university research has changed significantly • Funding competitions increasingly have a university-level gate , e.g.
• CFREF – only one proposal from each university• CFI –University funding caps on proposals• CERC – only 3 proposals go forward from each university
• Forces research clusters to compete across disciplines, e.g.• Forestry vs. medicine • Advanced manufacturing vs. astronomy
• Potential to significantly reduce large scale research funding for bio-economy research
• Strong academic research, innovation and education sector is critical to vibrant bio-economy ecosystem. Need is to:
• Demonstrates excellence and competes at the highest level• Demonstrate unprecedented level of cooperation across researchers, universities,
institutions and industries
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UBC BIO-PRODUCTS INSTITUTE
FBP.UBC.CA
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Elitetrees
Enzyme discovery
Directed evolution
Catalyst discovery and design
Deconstruct Functionalize Processing & Products
Functional Materials• Super lightweight nanocomposites• Impervious armor coatings• Optoelectronic sensors
BioPolymers
Biochemicals
Bio (nano) Fibres
Advanced Chemicals• Nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals• Bio-oil, lubricants, additives• Advanced polymers and plastics
Bio-Jet Fuel
Bio Refinery
Solid Lumber
Paper
Plywood
Genomics
RESEARCH STRATEGY - ‘OMICS TO AIRPLANES’
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FUTURE OF BIOPRODUCTS FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES
BPI is working on:
• High value bio-based products (e.g. medical implants, supercapacitors, advanced lightweight bio-composites)
• Advanced bio-based materials (plastic, polymers, fibres) & chemicals/chemical intermediates
• Advanced bio-based processes and associated scale-up technologies
• High value products that take advantage of the natural complexity and diversity of biomass are enablers of the broad bio-economy.
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RESEARCH STRENGTHS IN FOREST BIOPRODUCTS
Stephen G. Withers (Science)
Royal Society of London,
Royal Society of Canada
Jack Saddler (Forestry)
NSERC Senior Industrial Chair
Joerg Bohlmann (Science)
Royal Society of Canada
John Grace (Applied Science)
Order of Canada,
Order of BC
Mark J. MacLachlan (Science)
Royal Society of Canada
CRC Tier 1 Supramolecular Materials
Shawn Mansfield (Forestry)
CRC Tier 2 Wood and Fibre
James A. Olson (Applied Science)
NSERC Synergy
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Harry Brumer (Science)
Enzyme discovery
Xiaotao Bi (Applied Science)
Canadian Academy of Engineering
Lindsay Eltis(Science)
CRC Tier 1 Microbial Catabolism and Biocatalysis
Laurel Schafer (Science)
Royal Society of Canada
CRC Tier 2 Catalysis Development
Naoko EllisChemical and biological engineeringFluidization and Multiphase Systems
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Gary Bull (Forestry) Forest economics and management
Peter Englezos(Applied Science)Papermaking chemistry
Savvas Hatzikiriakos(Applied Science)Polymer Processing, Surface Science
Frank Ko(Applied Science)Nanofibretechnology, structural composites
Rob Kozak(Forestry)Conservation, forest economics, wood products
Parisa Mehrkhodavandi(Science)Catalysis, biodegradable polymers
William Mohn(Science)Metabolism of terpenoidcompounds
Derek Gates(Science)Inorganic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry,
Steve Hallam(Science)CRC Tier 2 Environmental Genomics
Kevin J. Smith(Applied Science)Catalysis and kinetics
Scott Renneckar (Forestry) CRC Tier 2 Advanced renewable materials
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Heather Trajano(Applied Science)Biomass Conversion, Biorefinery, Pretreatment
Mark Martinez(Applied Science)Synergy AwardFluid mechanics, multiphase flows
Jim Kronstad(Science)Functional genomics, structural genomics
RESEARCH STRENGTHS IN FOREST BIOPRODUCTS
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COHESIVE RESEARCH TEAM
Researchers across the Faculties of • Applied Science• Science• Forestry• Land and Food Systems
Strongly integrated and collaborative team
• Co-publish • Co-supervise• Co-apply for research grants FBP.UBC.CA
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EXCELLENT BY ANY MEASURE
4th Globally for biomass and bioproducts research quality
University of British …University of
New Brunswick
McGill University
University of Toronto
University of Guelph
University of Alberta
University of Saskatchewan
Universite Laval
University of Wisconsin
Georgia Institute of Technology
Purdu…
Royal Institute of Technology
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Cita
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/ Pu
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PublicationsSciVal , 2011 – 2016 University comparison in combined research areas: Lignin, Cellulose and Hemi-cellulose
Team total metrics
• 2,237 peer reviewed journal papers; 108,914citations
• $150M in funding, $7M from industry
• Forest Genomics at UBC Awarded $31M in 2016
• Multiple patents and spinoffs : Metamixis, Highbury Energy, Solegear, RoofRock, CreatusBioscience
• 800+ graduate students• 5 CREATE’s : GSAT
(Withers), Sustainable Synthesis (Schafer), NanoMaterials(MacLachlan), Ecoscope(Hallam), WOW (Ellis)
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Pulp and Paper Centre
Biomass & Bioenergy Research
Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility
Centre for Advanced Wood Processing
Sauder School of Business
Clean Energy Research Centre
Michael Smith Laboratories
AMPEL & SBQMI
Korea Institute of Science & Technology - UBC Bio-refinery Lab
FP Innovations UBC Research Partnership
Forest Science Centre
RESEARCH STRENGTHS IN FOREST BIOPRODUCTS
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3RD IN GLOBAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
11SciVal , 2011 – 2016 top 20 University comparison, on % collaborations in combined research areas: Lignin, Cellulose and Hemi-cellulose
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BPI INITIATIVES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS
• Green Bio-Products Masters in Engineering Leadership• UBC President Excellence Chair • Canadian Foundation for Innovation Grants• Canadian Excellence Research Chair • BC Bioproducts Alliance• Bioinnovative Renewables Network:
• Networks of Centres of Excellence• BioDesign Super Cluster
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GREEN BIO-PRODUCTS MASTERS IN ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP
UBC Presidents Excellence Research Chairin Forest Bioproducts$3M to create attract the best and brightest to UBC in the area of Bio-products – now hiring
https://academic.ubc.ca/forest-bioproducts
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CANADA FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION (PROPOSAL) $11 MILLION FOR SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY – BIOMATERIALS
X-Ray micro-computed tomography Mini Twin Extruder LabMelt Blending CompounderScientific Injection MoldingDynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA)Scienitific Lab scale fibre line and conditioning 3D Multifunctional Prototype Fabrication System Meltblown Nonwoven Lab Line High Temperature FurnaceAutomated Solvent ExtractorAgilent 1290 II Infinity UHPLC
Agilent 7000G GC-TQVantec-500 Upgrade package for B8 discover series BNS multiMode upgrade for AFM (SAQ-1545)Two chip Double emulsion systemOmics2 screening platform (ECHO555 )Spark 20M Plate Reader ( Tecan)AktaExpress System FPLC Gas chromatograph with mass-selective detector (GC-MSD)LC/UHR-TOF for metabolomicsIsothermal Titration CalorimeterCarbohydrate High Performance Liquid Chromatography system Raman, Near Infra-Red and FTIR Spectrometer Homogenizer
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CANADA FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION (PROPOSAL)$6M BIOFUELS AND CHEMICALS
• Pilot scale thermo-chemical conversion • State-of-the-art laboratory and analytic tools• Synergy with UBC’s existing bioenergy utility
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Elitetrees
Lignin
Hemicellulose
Nano/micro cellulose fibresGenomics
Deconstruction & fractionation
Novel Enzymes ($200 M/y)
Innovative Trees($200 M/y)
Next GenerationBioplastic ($3.9B/y)
High Strength Fibre Reinforced Polymers($3.1B/y)
Functionalization
Polymer compatible fibres
Fibre, polymer & chemical processing
High value materials and chemicals
Optimizing feedstock
Material and product characterization
Innovative Products
Innovative Technologies
Advanced Low-Cost, Carbon Fibre Composites ($10 B/y)
Polymers
CANADIAN EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR
Empowering innovation by connecting synthetic biology with materials science
• Industry led consortium • Unique partnership model to create
advance transformative technologies • Initial Funding of ~ $8M for forest
bioproducts research & innovation over next 4 years
• Could be extended across Canada
BC BIOPRODUCTS ALLIANCE
BC Forest Industry – Economic Impact Study, January 2015
Global Innovation
Powerhouse
World’s largest forest research, innovation and commercialization organization
• 550 scientists, engineers and business analysts with 170 employees on the UBC campus
• $93M/year budget• $500M in economic benefit to industry • 52 technologies deployed over 150 sites
TAKING UBC DISCOVERIES TO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS
POTENTIAL FOR THE RESEARCH RESULTS TO FOSTER INNOVATION + CLEAR BENEFITS TO CANADA
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BC BIOPRODUCTS ALLIANCE
About the Alliance
• Part of the BC Forest Sector Competitiveness Strategy developed by BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations in partnership with Canfor, Catalyst, Domtar and Harmac Pacific, Paper Excellence, Mercer, West Fraser, FP Innovations and UBC.
• Champions innovation of advanced bio-based materials and bio-products • UBC BPI and FP Innovations working in partnership to deliver applied research
and innovation
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BIOPRODUCTS ALLIANCE THEME AREAS1. Biofuels from forest biomass
• Start with “Pseudo” RNG for pulp mill lime kilns• Step-wise process to produce a pipeline grade RNG
3. Bioproducts from lignin• Platform of higher value applications
4. Value-added products from mill wastes (ash, sludge) • Additives for mining waste, concrete, soil stabilization, fertilizer• Reduce landfill volumes/costs
2. Bioproducts in building materials • Focus on spray foam insulation and barrier film
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BiRNET - BIOINNOVATIVE RENEWABLES NETWORK
Pan Canada Network• 16+ Universities• Government• Industry (National and multi-national)
Focus on bio-based materials & chemicals• Championing the Canadian bio-based economy research agenda• Focus on high value products as enablers of the broad bio-economy
Value • Industry targeted research• Themes covering all aspects of the value chain
23Seeking Advisory Board and Scientific Board members
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BiRNET – NETWORK CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE COMPETITION
Biomaterials feedstock development and conversion • Develop elite and novel feedstocks• Development and evaluation of novel enzymes and molecular catalysts• High quality cellulosic materials and chemicals
High value chemicals and materials• Designer advanced materials from biomass
Applications and products• New composite materials for better performance and environmental impacts• Drive the reorganization of Canadian forest/agriculture industries into the broader bio-
base economy
Capturing value for Canada’s bioeconomy• Develop market perspective and value proposition• Identification of performance metrics• Understanding the role of government policy in the adoption of innovations• Modelling of social, environmental and economic benefits
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BIODESIGN SUPER CLUSTER
TRANSFORM CANADA’S SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY &AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
• Establish new bioeconomy value chains
• Differentiate our global advantages
• Align current industry activities
• Accelerate deployment of disruptive technologies
BIO-SOURCED OUTPUTS
• Liquid fuels and other petroleum substitutes
• Fine chemicals and chemical intermediates
• Plastics, polymers and fibres
• Composites and lightweight materials
COMMITMENTS TO DATE• 25+ industry contributing partners• 15+ academic and public/private
research institutes• $400 million+ investment
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BIO
DES
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SUPE
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LUST
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THANK YOU
J AM E S O L S O N , I N T E R I M D E AN F AC U T L Y O F AP P L I E D S C I E N C E , U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A
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UBC BIOPRODUCTS INSTITUTE
Focused on developing from Canada’s renewable resources• High value bio-based products (e.g. medical implants, supercapacitors, advanced
lightweight bio-composites)• Advanced bio-based materials (plastic, polymers, fibres) & chemicals/chemical
intermediates• Advanced bio-based processes and associated scale-up technologies• Biofuels scale up processes• Industrial biotechnology platforms
Made up of and using• Canada’s most advanced facilities in this rapidly growing bio-based sector• Active industry and academic partnership model • 40+ researchers from multiple disciplines
