MBI (the Michigan Biotechnology Institute) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) biotechnology research accelerator based in Lansing, Michigan.[1][2] MBI came into existence in 1982 through a joint collaboration between the State of Michigan and a few different organizations, including the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.[3][4] MBI's original goal, as stated by Russell G. Mawby, chairman and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was to "link university research with applications of biotechnology to expand our forest and agricultural industries, create jobs, and further improve the state's economic situation." The W.K. Kellogg foundation made a 4-year, $10 million grant to carry out this objective.[3][4]

MBI is sought out by industry partners for its unique derisking capabilities and their market-driven multidisciplinary team that accelerates the commercialization of biobased technologies. MBI pioneered de-risking, a process that quickly and cost-effectively fails flawed technologies while accelerating viable ones through a stage-gated innovation process.[1] MBI has collaborated with many notable companies in the industrial biotechnology, including: DuPont, Genomatica,[5] OPX Bio, and Novozymes. Most recently, MBI collaborated with Bolt Threads (Emeryville, CA) to produce synthetic spider silk without the spiders.[6][7][8][9][10]

Historically, MBI also worked with Michigan State University and Cargill to develop PLA, the first biodegradable polymer in global use.[11][12]

On February 7, 2014, President Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited and toured MBI's facility prior to signing the Farm Bill at MSU's Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center.[13] President Obama learned about MSU and MBI's joint project, AFEX, a pretreatment process for crop residues, and visited the pilot facility.[14] The pilot facility was funded by in 2011 by a $4.3 million grant from the US Department of Energy, allowing MBI to scale-up the technology.[15][16][17] President Obama provided a favorable review of the AFEX technology during his visit.[18]

MBI was purchased by the Michigan State University Foundation in 2007.

MBI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation and is located in Lansing, Michigan, on the south end of Michigan State University's campus.

References

  1. 1 2 Lane, Jim (22 March 2015). "Michigan Biotechnology Institute: Biofuels Digest's 2015 5-Minute Guide". Biofuels Digest. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "MBI: A mission-inspired, market-driven biotech derisking hub". MBI.
  3. 1 2 Mawby, Russell (27 September 1984). "Russell G. Mawby Speech, The Michigan Biotechnology Institute". GVSU Digital Collections. Grand Valley State University Special Collections & University Archives, Johnson Center for Philanthropy Archives, Russell Mawby Collection. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 Mawby, Russell (30 July 1085). "Russell Mawby speech at the Michigan Biotechnology Institute Groundbreaking". Grand Valley State University Digital Collections. Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Bigelow, Bruce (29 June 2010). "San Diego's Genomatica Scales Up Bio-Based Technology in Michigan Demo". Xconomy. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Lawler, Emily (18 August 2015). "Michigan biotech center helps make spider silk that's stronger than steel". MLive. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. ↑ Weiner, Sophie (5 June 2015). "Soon You'll Be Able To Buy A Bra Made Of Spider Silk". Fast Company. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Limas, Marianna (9 June 2015). "Bolt Threads Raises $32.3M Series B to Scale up Engineered Silk Fabrics". Synbiobeta. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Stone, Brad (3 June 2015). "A Bay Area Startup Spins Lab-Grown Silk". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "Local Michigan Biotech Firm Helps Take Engineered Silk to the Next, Wearable Level". MBI.
  11. ↑ Schmid, Sarah (28 February 2012). "MBI Helps Biotech Companies De-Risk and Expand". Xconomy. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "A Case Study on commercializing Starch-based biodegradable plastics". msu.edu.
  13. ↑ "President Obama Tours MBI Facility, Talks AFEX With Bruce Dale". glbrc.org.
  14. ↑ Anders, Melissa (7 February 2014). "President Barack Obama signs farm bill, touts economic impact during Michigan visit". MLive. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  15. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (13 June 2011). "D.O.E. Grants $83 Million To Biofuels Startups (Not One Of Them In Silicon Valley)". Tech Crunch. TechCrunch.com. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Department of Energy Announces up to $36 Million to Support the Development of Drop-In Biofuels and Bioproducts". energy.gov. U.S. Department of Energy. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  17. ↑ Burg, Natalie (17 August 2011). "Michigan Biotechnology Institute awarded $4.3M grant for biofuel development". Capital Gains. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  18. ↑ Hagstrom, Jerry (8 February 2014). "Scenes from Obama's visit to Michigan". The Hagstrom Report. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
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