MicroDrivE – Microbially Derived Energy – is a thematic research program on sustainable biofuel production at the Faculty for Natural Resources and Agriculture (NL), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). The program has the following long term goals: To maximise the energy yield of ethanol and biogas processes, improve overall process economy through development of novel co-products, and to minimise environmental impact. The program strategy is: To integrate research projects on biopreservation, enzymatic pre-treatment of plant feed stock, ethanol fermentation, bioprocessing and fermentation of ethanol process by-products, biogas fermentation, and the re-circulation of plant nutrients in biogas digestates. Initially, the focus will be on using cereal grains and sugar beets as feed stock, later straw and other cellulosic biomass sources will be explored. MicroDrivE presently involves 16 scientists, post-docs and PhD students with specialist competence in microbiology, molecular biology/enzymology and natural products chemistry. The scientists supervise MSc thesis students doing 20 week-projects, commonly in joint projects with our industrial partners (Syngenta seeds, Chematur Engineering, Jästbolaget, Medipharm, Tekniska verken/Svensk Biogas and Sala Heby Energi). MicroDrivE is funded by the NL-faculty (50%), our industrial partners, the Swedish Farmers Research Foundation (SLF) and the National Energy Board. The research program started March 1, 2007, and is planned to run until 2013, with an annual budget exceeding 0.9 M USD. MicroDrivE welcomes international cooperation!