The Aug. 5 shutdown of two paper machines at Thunder Bay's AbitibiBowater mill sent shockwaves through this already battered northwestern Ontario city.
But it was also a siren call to Mike Willick that forest fibre must be better utilized to make the high-value commercial products of the future.
The inaugural board meeting of CRIBE, a fledgling Thunder Bay bio-economy research centre, came a day after the bankrupt Montreal pulp and paper giant sent 360 workers home on indefinite layoff.
There was some discussion among dignitaries on how to trot out CRIBE's new directors and at the same time address this devastating news, Willick's answer was simple, “That's exactly why we have CRIBE.”
Headquartered at Confederation College, the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) is a not-for-profit institute tasked with finding the best way to use the region's wood fibre and forest biomass.
“We have to diversify the product mix. I hope we'll always make paper...but we need products that add value,” said Willick, CRIBE's interim CEO and a former Ontario Natural Resources assistant deputy minister.
There's a whole raft of possibilities in the research pipeline at places like Lakehead University that can be commercialized into the next generation of fuels, fibres, fillers, composites and chemicals.
It's taken well over a year for CRIBE to get rolling since the Ontario government first announced a $25 million investment to establish the centre in May 2008.
Willick is out searching for a permanent CEO and is collaborated with FP Innovations to recommend a project list, both short and long-term, to the new board, this fall.
CRIBE's first board meeting in early August showcased a line-up of heavy hitters and influential Northerners, chaired by Tembec founder Frank Dottori.
Joining him at the table was Scotiabank economist Patricia Mohr, Nishnawbi Aski Development Fund President/CEO Harvey Yesno, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Executive Director Tom Vair, TBay Tel President-CEO Don Campbell, former FP Innovations President/CEO Ian de la Roche, Ontario BioAuto Council President/CEO Craig Crawford and Woodbridge Foam Global Research Director Harndy Khalik.
“I'm really happy with the board make-up,” said Willick. “They're a really capable bunch and a good cross-section.”
Built as a lean organization of only a few administrative staff, CRIBE doesn't perform any actual research but coordinates activity between government, companies and post-secondary institutions.
Ph.D researchers at Lakehead could be linked with technologists in the biochemical industry in Sarnia.
Forestry, engineering and skilled trades students at Lakehead and Confederation College will get hands-on training for green-collar jobs on pilot projects that could generate heat and power for remote Northern communities or on lab work that strength-tests an automobile dashboard made from wood fibre.
“They're going to be on the cutting edge of finding out what that business is in training the people that we need,” said Willick.
The Ontario BioAuto Council and Woodbridge Foam is interested in using bioproducts for car seats.
“Just think of the power of the forest industry providing products that can be used to make a green (auto) part,” said Willick. “There's quite a bit of material that goes (into automobiles) that's not steel, but is made out of petroleum products.”
CRIBE's marquee project will establishing a small-scale $8 million bio-refinery pilot plant at the AbitibiBowater mill as a sort of test-bed for products that could revolutionize the pulping business.
Willick said pulp mills need to be thought of as green chemical plants.
“It's a big refinery. Instead of using stuff that's been in the ground for millions of years, it's using stuff that's still growing here.”
The CRIBE board will also serve as a kind of Dragon's Den for companies and entrepreneurs.
“For people with a good idea that need help to get going, the board will look at their proposal and see whether it's worth CRIBE participating,” said Willick.
The group is also hoping tap into government research funding and getting some private sector buy-in.
“Once we get a plan in place, we'll shop it around and see who wants to play,” said Willick.
Despite posting stagging second quarter losses of $510 million US, Willick said AbitibiBowater remains in a position to participate and invest in the bio-refinery project if it makes good sense to company management and its court-appointed monitor.
“The company is really keen on this. They see this as the future and I feel it is the way of the future for pulp mills too.”
There are also government financial incentives available through Ottawa's $1 billion 'black liquor' program which are ideal for this project.
To Willick, the true measure of CRIBE's success will be if $25 million can be spun out into a $100 million investment.
The next CRIBE board meeting will likely take place in mid-September when a hiring committee will present the directors with a short-list of CEO candidates and the board will iron out its strategic business plan.
www.confederationc.on.ca
www.lakeheadu.ca
www.fpinnovations.ca
