CFAES Give Today
FABE

Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

CFAES

Next Month: Advanced Biobased Systems Workshop

Aug. 22, 2018
The Advanced Biobased Systems Workshop: Pipeline to Commercialization will take place on Monday, September 10th from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus

Next month stakeholders from academia, commodity groups, and industry will come together to share knowledge and experiences in the development and commercialization of biobased materials.

The Advanced Biobased Systems Workshop: Pipeline to Commercialization will take place on Monday, September 10th from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a pre-workshop networking event with a farm tour and barbeque on Sunday, September 9th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

“The workshop is an opportunity to gain understanding from the big picture perspective as well as case studies that illustrate the commercialization process, including challenges and overcoming them,” said event organizer Dr. Ajay Shah, assistant professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) at Ohio State and the head of the Biobased Systems Analysis Lab.

“The Ohio Soybean Council (OSC) is excited to provide support for this workshop,” said Barry McGraw, OSC director of Product Development and Commercialization. “It fits our mission of expanding the development of soy-based products and technologies, improving the profitability of Ohio’s soybean farmers.”

Several Ohio State researchers and industry leaders will be sharing their ideas and experiences in the commercialization process for biobased fuels and products.

The keynote speaker, Roger Wyse with Spruce Capital Partners, will provide an investor’s perspective on funding opportunities and constraints as well as how to position a product or company to be competitive for raising capital.

Case studies from successful entrepreneurs, such as Mike Feazel, Co-Founder and CEO of Roof Max Technologies, LLC, will provide insights into the real world of product development and commercialization,

"Roof Maxx is showing great promise as a biobased solution that can have a major impact on the roofing industry,” said Feazel. “The bio-based business model is proving viable, important for successful movement to bio-based production systems across many markets, which I see as a sensible approach for achieving economic and environmental sustainability."

Feazel will present “Soy-based Emulsion for Extending Roof Shingle Life: A Case Study.”

Three FABE faculty will also be presenting at the workshop:

  • Dr. Scott Shearer will present “Big Data Driven Optimization of Feedstock Logistics for Biobased Industries.”
  • Dr. Katrina Cornish will present “Developing Applications for Natural Rubber Alternatives.”
  • Dr. Ajay Shah will present “Evaluating Scale-up Potential: A Critical Step.”

“The goal is to develop greater understanding and networks that will lead to continue growth in this important industry,” said Shah.

Registration for the workshop is open and costs $60 through August 27th and $75 after that. It includes continental breakfast, lunch, and access to a networking event following the workshop. A special student registration rate of $30 is available through August 27th. The workshop is sponsored by the Ohio Soybean Council, OSU’s Sustainable and Resilient Economy Discovery Theme, OBIC, and BioHio.

To learn more about the workshop’s sessions and speakers, click here. To register online, click here.