“I saw this [the Biology Process Technology Institute] as another way of creating a bridge between IT and CBS. I thought we ought to promote the connection institutionally. Thus the idea of providing an academic home in Chemical Engineering for people primarily at the BPTI. I think we also wanted something that would be closer to the application end and that would interact with local business.”
 

– KENNETH H. KELLER, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, 1985-88

Since our founding in 1984, the BioTechnology Institute has worked to push the boundaries of biotechnology research and development in Minnesota and beyond. Here is a look back and where we've been and where we're going. 

Early 1980s A biotechnology initiative proposed by Biochemistry Department Head Victor Bloomfield and College of Biological Sciences Dean Richard Caldecott wins approval from Minnesota State Legislature.

1983 Funding used to remodel space for the Biology Process Technology Institute (BPTI) offices and a central fermentation facility in Gortner Lab.

1984 Michael Flickinger is selected as first director of BPTI. 

1984 Flickinger initiates the National Institute of Health (NIH) Biotechnology Training Grant which has since supported over 100 PhD students.

1984 Funding is allocated for the Biotechnology Resources Center (BRC).

1992 A master’s program in Microbial Engineering (MicE) is  founded, partnering students with BPTI faculty.

1995 Ken Valentas is appointed as new BPTI director.

1996 BPTI establishes a formal exchange program with the Nara Institute of Science and Technology.

2000 BPTI is renamed as the BioTechnology Institute (BTI). 

2001 BioDale opens and the BRC began to upgrad its capacity for imaging, analysis and industry use.

2001 BTI welcomes first students from Hochschule, Switzerland for student exchange.

2004 The new Cargill building finishes construction.

2005 BTI celebrates its twentieth anniversary by welcoming over 150 attendees to the new Cargill Building of Microbial & Plant Genomics.

2008 Ted Davis appointed as new BTI director.

2009 Mike Sadowsky is appointed as new BTI director and initiates the University of Minnesota’s Presidential Biocatalysis Initiative.

2010-2015 BTI makes strategic cluster hires to add new expertise in synthetic biology and bioremediation.

2017 New partnerships are established with the University of Tokyo and Osaka University.

2021 New construction of the new Bioresource Center begins.

2022 Claudia Schmidt-Dannert is appointed as new Director of BTI.

2024 New Bioresource Center opens.