DoE Assistant Secretary David Friedman, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, D.C., USA, this week announced that the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) Manufacturing Institute was the successful proposal for the Manufacturing Innovation Institute on Modular Chemical Process Intensification for Clean Energy Manufacturing. Agenda 2020 is among the partners of this bid. Agenda 2020 intends to work with the Institute to identify and prioritize specific opportunities to apply the developed technologies to the needs the pulp and paper industry.

"This promises to unfold as a great opportunity for Agenda 2020, its members, affiliates, and the pulp and paper industry," said Agenda 2020 Executive Director David Turpin. "It will be an outstanding forum for networking and collaboration with other industries on technologies and pathways to improve our sustainability and efficiency. We are eager to support the necessary planning and begin tackling cross-cutting opportunities."

"RAPID will be the newest, and tenth, member of the nation’s network of Manufacturing USA Institutes," said RAPID CEO Karen Fletcher. "In addition to DOE’s $70 million commitment over five years, our partners’ commitments, in cash and in kind, were key to making our proposal successful."

For further information, contact David Turpin, or visit the Agenda 2020 website. Click DoE RAPID Announcement to access the Department of Energy statement and AIChE Announcement for the AIChE announcement.

The Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance is an industry-led consortium that promotes development of advanced technologies for the pulp and paper industry.