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New cutting-edge facility designed to foster growth in the energy sector 

The University of Missouri Board of sa���ʴ�ý������ҳ��� approved a plan Thursday to construct the Energy Innovation Center, a facility where world-class researchers will research and design new methods of energy production.  

This 116,000-square-foot facility — slated to open just north of Lafferre Hall in 2028 — will serve as a launchpad for groundbreaking discoveries in energy technology and allow Mizzou to recruit new faculty experts to partner with established leaders on campus.  

“We are excited about advancing our mission in energy innovation and discovery.  Research relating to energy creation, distribution and performance is critically important,” Todd Graves, chair of the Board of sa���ʴ�ý������ҳ���, said. “This new facility will be built to promote multidisciplinary collaboration and attract the brightest minds tackling the world’s toughest energy challenges.”  

Inside the center, researchers from engineering, physics, computer science, chemistry and biochemistry will advance energy production, storage and distribution.  

“The Energy Innovation Center is essential to addressing our nation’s security, workforce and economic growth,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “This facility aligns incredible resources with world-class faculty to transform energy production and policy for the future.”  

Smart solutions

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing daily life. It’s also consuming more power than current systems can handle. Fueled in large part by AI’s energy appetite, global energy demand is projected to double in the next 25 years.  

The Energy Innovation Center will focus on high-impact areas such as nuclear energy, energy materials, AI, and grid efficiency and security.  

“Diversifying energy resources will be critical,” Marisa Chrysochoou, dean of the College of Engineering, said. “With our strengths in nuclear and materials science, AI, and cybersecurity, Mizzou is positioned to make significant contributions in the energy domain. This is about integrating research, education and community engagement to create transformative solutions that will drive the future of energy.”  

But demand isn’t the only problem. Cybersecurity threats, volatile weather and shifting energy loads are also straining an already aging infrastructure.

That’s why the Energy Innovation Center will go beyond energy production. Researchers will also explore storage, security and distribution as they focus on adaptable systems that can evolve as rapidly as the technologies they power.  

And they’ll consider how policies can ensure that innovation reaches every corner of society — from urban centers to rural communities.

“Technology alone won’t solve all of our energy challenges,” Cooper Drury, dean of the College of Arts and Science, said. “We need effective policy to keep pace with innovation. That’s where our policy experts will come in — working alongside scientists and engineers to turn new ideas into practical solutions that serve Missouri and beyond.”

The Energy Innovation Center is a partnership between the College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Science, and College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), with contributions from the School of Law, the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business and the Missouri School of Journalism.  

This collaborative approach underscores the center’s broader mission: harnessing the full spectrum of Mizzou’s expertise to shape a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

“Breakthroughs in energy sustainability and performance are essential for Missouri — and the world,” Christopher Daubert, vice chancellor and dean of CAFNR, said. “This innovative space builds on the strengths of Mizzou, which excels in converging cross-disciplinary collaborators for common goals and advances.”