New CEO at bio-economy organization.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NEWS - Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy appoints Scott Wiebe

There's a change at the top of a Thunder Bay-based forestry innovation 'institute. Scott Wiebe is the new CEO of the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy (CRIBE).

He replaces Lorne Morrow who departs after a five-year term.

Wiebe, who was previously CRIBE's program manager served a two-year stint as business analyst for AV Terrace Bay, a pulp mill operation in Terrace Bay owned by the Aditya Birla Group of India.

Wiebe said he brings back a greater appreciation for the "on-the-ground, real-world issues" surrounding wood supply logistics and fibre costs in Ontario.

Though grateful for the experience and technical knowledge he gained while with Birla. "this job is very much about the people and the innovation in Ontario, and that's exciting for me."

CRIBE was established as a not-for-profit institute by the Ministry of Research and Innovation in 2008, a time when the forestry sector in northwestern Ontario was collapsing.

There were high expectations that CRIBE would be a catalyst for a new wave of sector growth by helping facilitate a pipeline of new value-added products such as green fuels, fibres, composites and chemicals using forestry biomass.

Armed with a $25-million investment fund, CRIBE doesn't perform any research but coordinates activity between government, companies and post-secondary institutions.

CRIBE funds up to 50 per cent of a proposed value-added project to the pre-commercialization with either grants or loans. A proponent must provide 25 per cent in cash with the rest coming from either in-kind contributions or other funding corporations.

CRIBE boosted some successes--such as lignin extraction plant at the Resolute mill in Thunder Bay--but other initiatives have been slow to develop, given the tenuous state of the industry

As Wiebe prepares a new organizational strategic plan for next year, he suggested there may be some tweaks toward applying a "new face" to CRIBE.

"We're hoping...