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UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute Delivers Innovation

Meeting its mission to apply university brain-power to help Minnesota’s private sector employers, the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) submitted six industry-related patents, two of which became licensed products, during the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

University Vice President for Research Tim Mulcahy, praised the work of NRRI’s 17 inventors, recognizing their solutions-focused efforts during an annual Innovations Ceremony on the Twin Cities campus in February. The University of Minnesota celebrated the innovations of 161 university inventors representing 10 colleges who have earned 106 patents and 84 licenses.

(From left) Don Fosnacht, Larry Zanko, Oksana Kolomitsyna, Pavel Krasutsky, Tom Levar, Tim Mulcahy (Vice President for Research), Jay Schrankler (Office for Technology Commercialization), Mike Lalich, Dave Hendrickson, and University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks at the February Innovations ceremony on the Twin Cities campus.

“NRRI is a major force for the State of Minnesota,” said Mulcahy. “The University is very proud of, and grateful for, their many achievements.”

Pavel Krasutsky received his third University Innovations Award in February.

Among the highlights from the evening, Pavel Krasutsky, NRRI program director and chemist, was recognized with his third University Innovations Award. Krasutsky holds 16 U.S. patents and 25 world patents, 10 of which were licensed to companies. NRRI Scientist Tom Levar was recognized for developing a plant protection system that has been licensed to Repellex USA with a product launch planned for this spring.

NRRI’s patents and licenses for fiscal year 2009-2010, along with their innovators are:

PATENTS
Method and Apparatus for Evaluation of Standing Timber – Xiping Wang

Linear Hearth Furnace System and Methods Regarding Same – David Englund, Richard Kiesel, Rodney Bleifuss

Method and System for Producing Metallic Iron Nuggets – Iwao Iwasaki, Richard Kiesel, Rodney Bleifuss, Andrew Lindgren, Michael Lalich, Robert Beaudin

Triterpene Quaternary Salts as Biologically Active Surfactants – Pavel Krasutsky, Oksana Kolomitsyna

LICENSES
Refinement of Road Repair, Expansion to Rural Road Situations and Mix Processing Technologies – Lawrence Zanko, Tamara Diedrich, David Hendrickson, Don Fosnacht, Richard Kiesel
Watch a news segment about the application of this product http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2011726.shtml?cat=0

Systemic Plant Conditioning Composition – Thomas Levar
Read more about this product and its animal repelling properties on NRRI's website http://www.nrri.umn.edu/news/repellex.htm

Recently at his inauguration, UMD Chancellor Lendley C. (Lynn) Black stated that UMD receives more external research funding than all other Minnesota state colleges and universities combined, second only to the University’s Twin Cities campus. “Research at UMD translates into patents, licenses, new industry, and jobs,” Black said.

The mission of the Natural Resources Research Institute is to foster the economic development of Minnesota’s natural resources in an environmentally sound manner to promote private sector employment.

Visit the NRRI website.

Written by June Kallestad, NRRI. Edited by Kathleen McQuillan-Hofmann, kmcquill@d.umn.edu

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Contact Cheryl Reitan, creitan@d.umn.edu