IPST’s Norman Marsolan issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) April 3 for research funding under the IPST Endowment. Applications are due by April 28, and awards will be announced before May 15. The selection process includes review by the PSE Faculty Committee, input from member companies, and a final IPST director decision. The goal is to award ten new fellowship grants to faculty in the PSE participating Schools of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemistry & Biochemistry.

The RFP seeks research proposals implementing IPST’s three strategic thrusts: Operational Excellence in Pulp and Paper Manufacture (including new products from traditional machines and equipment), Biorefining, and New Product Development.

The announcement highlighted certain areas of high interest, stemming from industry expressions of interest at the Spring Executive Conference, “Beyond the Boundaries: Opportunities in Forest Bioproducts” (see cover story). New focus areas based on this input include novel sustainable paper manufacturing processes, including better separation technologies and applications; “big data” approaches to improve process operations and product quality control; strategies to reduce energy and water consumption; and 3-D printing, among others.