Our state is poised to expand its bioscience economy in market areas with strong growth potential. Working together, we can leverage Iowa’s resources and Iowa State University’s external research sponsors to accelerate commercialization of new bioscience discoveries.

At Iowa State University, that work is already underway as teams of researchers and industry partners move forward three of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ priority bioscience platforms — biobased chemicals, precision and digital agriculture, and vaccines and immunotherapeutics — announced in December 2017. 
 
We’ve started with the biobased chemicals platform, which offers exciting prospects for diversifying our agricultural products and adding value for Iowa’s producers. For example, Iowa State researchers are developing next-generation products with improved performance properties over current petrochemical-derived products. Emerging technologies include novel biobased insecticides, consumer product preservatives, and flame-retardant nylons that can enhance personal safety.

Iowa State is working with representatives from Iowa companies throughout the biobased products value chain to maximize our state’s position as having the highest concentration of agricultural processing infrastructure in the U.S. Iowa’s capital infrastructure, which includes corn wet mills, soybean processing facilities, corn dry mills, biodiesel plants and cellulosic ethanol plants — coupled with our expertise across the agricultural-based product value chain — makes Iowa well-positioned to further expand our bioproduct manufacturing industry. Iowa companies are already leveraging this infrastructure, as evidenced by bioproduct manufacturing clusters emerging from established sites in Cedar Rapids, Eddyville and Muscatine.
 
Through our collaboration with the Iowa Economic Development Authority on Iowa’s bioscience platforms, Iowa State University continues its quest to provide outstanding return on the state’s investment and tangible benefits for all Iowans through transformative research.