Bioenergy and Bioeconomy R&D Powers Innovation
NLR scientists pioneer biotechnologies designed to deliver high-performance and affordable chemicals, fertilizers, materials, minerals, and fuels that put U.S. manufacturers at the center of growth and innovation and enhance their global competitiveness.
Explore how to partner with us.
Our R&D is organized into core capabilities to maximize research efficiency and accelerate delivery of technologies to market.
Innovative pathways to chemicals, fertilizers, materials, minerals, and fuels are enabled by research expertise in:
Analysis, characterization, modeling, and artificial intelligence
Fundamental science of biological energy conversion
Scale-up and piloting.
Chemicals, Fertilizers, Materials, Fuels, and Carbon Conversion Research
NLR research develops industrially relevant, cost-effective, and performance-enhanced chemicals, fertilizers, materials, and fuels from biomass and waste resources. We innovate strategies and technologies for carbon conversion to support the bioeconomy of the future.
Discover how these NLR R&D capabilities enable new pathways and processes for bio-based products and technologies:
Analysis, Characterization, Modeling, and Artificial Intelligence Research
We support innovations and technologies with near- to long-term market opportunities
by developing and leveraging:
Machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches
Techno-economic and market analyses
Analytical characterization tools and techniques
Computational modeling and simulation.
Explore how NLR's bioeconomy analysis, characterization, modeling, and artificial intelligence R&D capabilities inform experimental research directions and technology pathways.
Science of Biological Energy Conversion Research
NLR creates scientific understanding that enables control over chemical, biochemical, and biophysical pathways and processes in living organisms, cell-free, biohybrid, and catalytic systems.
Knowledge of matter and energy flows—from molecular to multicellular and organismal scales—is fundamental to technological innovation and disruption in the bioeconomy.
Leverage NLR's science of biological energy conversion R&D capabilities to elucidate biotechnology-relevant electronic and atomic pathways.
Scale-Up and Piloting Research
We deliver technologies and solutions to market by implementing pilot projects and developing technical value and supply chain networks for commercialization and adoption.
Explore how NLR's scale-up and piloting R&D capabilities test-drive and de-risk marketable biotechnologies.
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Last Updated Sept. 21, 2026