$17 Million Investment to Expand SIUE’s NCERC, Advance Illinois’ Bioeconomy and Workforce

$17 Million Investment to Expand SIUE's NCERC, Advance Illinois' Bioeconomy and Workforce

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center will expand its capacity to advance pioneering research, prepare a skilled workforce and help companies bring new bioproducts to market through a $17 million investment announced Friday, Oct. 9, at NCERC alongside state and federal leaders.

The investment includes $15 million from the State of Illinois and $2 million from the Illinois Corn Growers Association, building on more than two decades of research and industry partnerships. It will strengthen SIUE's role in agricultural innovation, biomanufacturing and economic development in Southwestern Illinois.

"This announcement will usher in a new era for SIUE, for student researchers, for our corn growers, and for the future of the bioeconomy here in Illinois," said U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski. "With this $17 million investment, NCERC will be able to expand research and training capacity and give businesses the skilled talent they need to grow."

SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, said the expansion reflects the University's commitment to developing talent and advancing industries that strengthen Illinois' economy. He described a center whose opportunities had outgrown its available space, requiring NCERC to turn away contracts or refer projects elsewhere.

"This expansion creates an opportunity for innovation beyond traditional ethanol, unlocking the potential of renewable feedstocks, the acceleration of industry research and the ability to develop technologies that tomorrow's bioeconomy will require such as sustainable aviation fuel, biodiesel or cellulosic ethanol products," said Minor.

The investment will increase research space and capabilities, allowing NCERC to support the development and commercialization of sustainable fuels and materials.

Designated a Biorefining Center of Excellence by the Illinois General Assembly, NCERC has the capacity to scale fermentation processes to 22,000 liters. It is the largest process development capacity provided by an academic institution in the United States. This capability helps a company determine whether technologies developed through research can succeed at commercial scale.

"The NCERC expansion represents a strategic investment in Illinois' long-term competitiveness and the nation's bioeconomy," said Praveen Vadlani, Executive Director of NCERC. "By integrating advanced capabilities in agricultural feedstock utilization, AI, automation, and digital bioprocessing with hands-on workforce development, NCERC will accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies, attract private-sector investment, and prepare the skilled talent needed to advance the next generation of biomanufacturing."

Since 2003, NCERC has partnered with startups, technology developers and other industry partners, contributing to the advancement of more than 100 innovative technologies toward commercial readiness, largely in the corn-to-ethanol industry. The expansion will build on that foundation while opening opportunities for the next generation of bioproducts, including sustainable aviation fuel.

The project will also expand workforce development through partnerships with SIUE and Lewis and Clark Community College. Expanded facilities and programming are expected to add capacity to train an additional 200 workers each year for Illinois' growing biomanufacturing and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The expansion is expected to create approximately 25 new full-time positions at NCERC and support more than 100 construction jobs for local trades.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar, an SIUE alumnus, '97, joined Chancellor Minor, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, State Senator Doris Turner, State Rep. Katie Stuart, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II and Illinois Corn Growers Association Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl at the announcement outside NCERC.

"An investment of this magnitude in the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center is an investment in the future economic competitiveness of Southwestern Illinois," said Kyle Anderson, Executive Director, Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, who attended the press conference. "NCERC has a unique industry profile that few places in the country can match. Its ability to take emerging technologies from research and development through scale-up and toward commercialization gives companies a reason to look at our region when deciding where to innovate, invest and grow."

"We thank Governor Pritzker for recognizing the importance of this investment and for his support," said Mark Bunselmeyer, Illinois Corn Growers Association President. "NCERC has helped scale countless technologies, making ethanol production more efficient and lowering costs to the consumer over the last 23 years. With this investment in added scale-up capacity, we can continue improving ethanol efficiency while creating new bio-based products and building markets for the next generation of farmers."

"Today we further our commitment to the state's agriculture industry," said State Senator Doris Turner. "The expansion will connect Illinois' agriculture with the next generation of energy, manufacturing and technology, keeping the state as a national leader in agricultural innovation. More uses for corn can mean more opportunities for Illinois' farmers, strengthening our agriculture economy."
State Rep. Jay Hoffman supported the NCERC expansion with a statement.

"This is a significant public-private investment that is not only great for our region, but for entire industries across Illinois," said Hoffman. "For more than two decades, the NCERC has been at the forefront of innovation. I'm excited to see what they can accomplish with expanded capabilities."

By expanding the center's ability to help companies develop and test new technologies, the investment will support research partnerships, attract private-sector investment and contribute to the continued growth of SIUE.

For SIUE alumnus and NCERC Research Fellow Elijah Switzer, the impact is already personal.

Switzer earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from SIUE in December 2022. After working in restaurant management, he wanted to return to science. A fellowship at NCERC offered a path back to the laboratory.

"Immediately, I started working independently in a research lab, leading my own projects and working directly with clients," said Switzer.

Those experiences also renewed his interest in business, leading him back to SIUE to pursue a Master of Business Administration with NCERC's support. Switzer described his growth into leading client and government-funded research projects, presenting his work at national conferences and building connections across the industry.

His experience illustrates the opportunities the expansion will extend to more students, researchers and workers.

"We have a talented group, exciting projects and more opportunities to come," said Switzer. "However, in order to grow, we need more physical space so that we can expand our capabilities and welcome new opportunities."

For Switzer and the researchers who will follow him, that space means room to turn scientific potential into progress at SIUE, Illinois and beyond.

Photo: Chancellor Minor, Nikki Budzinski, Andy Manar