Bioeconomy Grants
+ Research
Funding for university research, student salaries, pilot projects, and regional bioindustrial deployment.
The Foundation supports research that advances fiber-based materials, processing equipment, agronomy, engineering standards, and regional pilot development.
Funding comes from the Foundation, community micro-backing, matched grants, and industrial partners through American Fiber Group.
Research Priorities
Funding supports high-impact work across:
Materials Science
Fiber characterization, composites, coatings, thermal profiles, tensile testing.
Processing & Manufacturing
Decortication, milling, pulping, densification, pyrolysis, pelletization, equipment innovation.
Agronomy & Field Trials
Cultivar performance, soil health, irrigation, carbon retention, regenerative cycles.
Engineering & Standards
Load testing, structural benchmarks, composite models, DBX alignment.
Regional Pilot Projects
Deployment of small-scale processing, local testing facilities, workforce integration.
Photo:
Research assistant conducting tensile or thermal analysis.
How Research Is Funded
Funding flows from four coordinated channels:
1. Bioeconomy Foundation Grants
Seed funding for early-stage research, testing, prototypes, and field trials.
2. Community Micro-Backing
Parents, alumni, residents, and local businesses contribute small amounts toward student projects or regional pilots.
Micro-backers receive proportional 10-year royalty shares when research yields commercial results.
3. Matched Grants
Selected projects receive matched support from public, regional, or philanthropic programs.
Grant matching is applied when a project aligns with community or regional goals.
4. Industrial Participation (AFG & Partners)
Equipment access, materials, testing capacity, or financial support from American Fiber Group and industrial teams.
This moves research into deployment faster.
Students, Faculty, and Departments Are Funded Directly
The Accelerator provides clear support to the people doing the work:
Paid Student Researchers
Students receive full-time salaries so they can focus entirely on research, engineering, or field trials.
Student Royalties (10 Years)
Students earn a long-term royalty share if their project becomes part of an industrial material, process, or system.
Faculty Royalties
Faculty receive a royalty share tied to their research leadership, creating continuity and long-term stability.
Department & Administration Compensation
Universities receive structured fees for oversight, lab time, facilities, and project management.
Community Micro-Backing Integration
Contributions from parents, alumni, and local businesses help fund research and receive proportional long-tail royalties..
Standards Connected to Industrial Deployment
Research funded through this program aligns with DBX — the Domestic Biofiber Index created by American Fiber Group.
DBX establishes the reference framework for:
material grade definitions
quality and performance benchmarks
FEOC-compliant procurement standards
chain-of-custody verification
industrial qualification criteria
baseline insurance modeling and underwriting standards
As DBX grades mature, they provide insurers with measurable inputs for:
facility risk ratings
equipment failure profiles
fire and material safety classifications
regional hazard adjustments
premium setting for processing hubs and manufacturers
When research meets DBX thresholds, AFG integrates it into processing lines, procurement channels, and the emerging insurance frameworks that support regional industrial development.
Eligible Teams
university labs
faculty research groups
graduate and undergraduate teams
materials science departments
agriculture and soil science programs
engineering schools
community colleges
regional development organizations coordinating pilots
manufacturer-led research collaborations
Submit a Research Overview
Applicants submit a short brief outlining:
research focus
expected outcomes
timeline
faculty lead
student roles
equipment or acreage needs
regional alignment (if applicable)
DBX relevance (if known)
The Foundation reviews submissions monthly.
Funding for all Foundation programs draws from the same coordinated model: Foundation grants, community micro-backing, matched grants when available, and industrial participation through American Fiber Group. DBX alignment ensures that successful work can enter procurement pathways, deployment pilots, and regional industrial systems.
