Bioenergy and Alternative Fuels

Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative

The Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative is a public-private partnership in bioenergy research, outreach, training and economic development.

The centerpiece of this initiative is the establishment of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), where scientists will research new technologies to convert plant biomass to energy sources.

Schools and Colleges

The College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, with a distinguished history of research and advances in the biosciences, including leading researchers in biochemistry, genetics, and food and animal sciences.

The College of Engineering, home to a number of departments operating at the interface between engineering and the biosciences, including the Biomedical Engineering Center, an interdepartmental research center that combines the talents of researchers in engineering and medical disciplines working for the advancement and enhancement of health care.

The College of Letters and Science, the largest academic unit on campus, made up of five professional schools and 39 departments, including the natural and biological sciences and computer sciences.

Research Centers and Facilities

UW Biotechnology Center
425 Henry Mall
The Biotechnology Center is Wisconsin’s catalyst to advance biotechnology research, education and industry for the benefit of society and the environment. It provides a variety of services to university scientists, ranging from DNA sequencing to peptide synthesis.

Genome Center of Wisconsin
425 Henry Mall
The research center exists within the Biotechnology Center. The Genome Center’s 30 faculty members represent more than 17 departments and six schools within UW-Madison. The center fosters integrative and highly collaborative research that bridges multiple diverse disciplines.

Plant Biology and Plant Sciences
When it comes to research in plant biology and plant sciences, few schools can match the capabilities and diversity of UW-Madison. The university is home to more than 14 departments and programs,a as wellas more than 140 faculty dedicated to research on plants.

Biology New Media Center
425 Henry Mall
The center provides resources to assist the entire campus community in integrating multimedia technology into teaching and research.

Unique Educational Opportunities

Master of Science in Biotechnology Program
510 Charmany Drive, Suite 171
Drawing on the resources of a world-class university, the master of science in biotechnology is intended for practicing scientists, technical professionals, attorneys and business strategists seeking a cross-functional understanding of biotechnology without having to interrupt their careers to pursue studies full time.

Strategic Management in the Life and Engineering Sciences MBA program
School of Business, 2296 Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave.
This program produces the founders, leaders and advisers of organizations seeking to bring new technologies to market in ways that improve the quality of life for the world's peoples. The program’s aim is to solidify UW-Madison’s global leadership role in fusing leading-edge science, strategy and policy-making. Under the program’s umbrella, students specialize in agribusiness, engineering or science.

Tech-transfer Resources

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
614 Walnut St., 13th Floor
Since its founding in 1925, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) has served the UW- Madison scientific community by patenting the discoveries of UW-Madison researchers and licensing these technologies to leading companies in Wisconsin, the United States and worldwide. In this way, WARF also facilitates the use of UW-Madison research for the maximum benefit of society. WARF distributes the income from commercial licenses to the UW-Madison, the inventors and their departments. Each year, WARF contributes more than $45 million to fund additional UW-Madison research. In 2005, WARF was the recipient of the National Medal of Technology, which is the nation’s highest award for technological achievement.

New Business Startup Initiative
Office of Corporate Relations, 455 Science Drive, Suite 230
In collaboration with other entrepreneurial services on campus, this program provides multidimensional support for faculty, staff and students who want to start companies based on their work at UW-Madison.

Fluno Center for Executive Education
601 University Ave.
The Fluno Center connects the university’s vast resources to the professional community. Every year, thousands of professionals from industry, government and nonprofit organizations participate in continuing education programs taught by the university’s faculty.

Small Business Development Center
975 University Ave.
Partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the UW-Madison Small Business Development Center is a leader in offering seminars and other programs specially designed for researchers interested in taking their ideas to market. Through its Technology Business Development Institute, the center offers seminars and counseling for those interested in starting a technology business.

Initiative for Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship
School of Business, 2020J Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave.
The initiative facilitates, creates and transmits fundamental research related to technology entrepreneurship. It includes new-venture creation, new-venture financing, strategic management of technology, legal and regulatory influences on innovation and venture creation, and related policy issues.

University Research Park
510 Charmany Drive, Suite 250
University Research Park’s mission is to encourage partnerships between businesses and university researchers. Located three miles west of UW-Madison, the park is the home of 110 companies employing more than 5,300 people.

New research facilities under development at UW-Madison

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
The GLBRC is a U.S. Department of Energy research center where scientists and engineers will conduct basic research toward a suite of new technologies to help convert cellulosic plant biomass – cornstalks, wood chips and perennial native grasses – to sources of energy for everything from cars to electrical power plants.

Microbial Sciences Building
UW-Madison’s three core microbiology departments — bacteriology, food microbiology and toxicology, and medical microbiology and immunology — have joined to create an international center of excellence in the microbial sciences. The Microbial Sciences Building, a 330,000-square-foot, $120.5 million complex now under construction, will house the three departments.

Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
The institutes will occupy the 1200 and 1300 blocks of University Avenue, serving as massive interdisciplinary research center that combines biology, bioinformatics, computer science, engineering, nanotechnology and other fields in one setting.

Articles and Reports

Deep into Bio
Bioscience is blossoming around the globe and at UW-Madison. In two areas, however — research into human embryonic stem cells and materials science — the depth of UW-Madison’s expertise in bioscience is in a class all by itself.

The Biotech Express
How an innovative, interdisciplinary program at UW-Madison is preparing people for success in the still-evolving new world of the biotech industry.

Bioscience Boulevard
From the Fluno Center in the east to the Biotechnology Center in the central campus to the Clinical Sciences Center in the west, it really is all here.

From Molecules to Manufacturing
Profiles of UW-Madison expertise in the biosciences and the business of transferring the results of research into the marketplace by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).

UW-Madison, WARF rank third in 2004 license income
Driven by the discovery of promising new drugs, agricultural products and biotechnologies, UW-Madison and its technology transfer arm, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, generated more than $47.5 million in licensing revenues in 2004.

A Conversation with Gabriela Cezar: A Scientist Who Grew Up in Brazil Brings International Connections to UW-Madison’s Stem Cell Work
Published by WisBusiness.com
Madison biotech officials are hoping that Cezar’s industry contacts in this country and abroad — as well as her business savvy — can help attract investors’ capital for local start-up companies or perhaps even lure a major drug firm here.

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