AGP Executive Report

Space and Science: An 11-foot metal object found in a western Minnesota cornfield may be space debris, prompting fresh questions about how rocket parts reach the ground. STEM Workforce: The Arrowhead Tour of Manufacturing brought 215 students to 32 northeastern Minnesota factories, while another 156 toured 21 sites in the Duluth-Superior area. Clean Energy: Minnesota is nearing 400 solar-powered schools, and 23 electric school buses have been purchased. AI and Data Centers: A new poll finds 72% of Americans oppose data centers in their communities; in Hermantown, Google reached a decommissioning agreement ahead of a data-center vote. Health Technology: Newsweek ranked Mayo Clinic in Rochester the world’s top smart hospital for 2027.

Recycled Roads: A Minnesota test on Highway 25 near Mayer found asphalt made with factory shingle scraps performed at least as well as a control section by late 1995, offering an early look at reusing roofing waste in road construction. Clean Energy at Schools: Minnesota is nearing 400 solar-powered schools, and districts have purchased 23 electric school buses. Space and Research: An 11-foot piece of space debris found in a Minnesota cornfield was linked to a Chinese rocket. At the University of Minnesota’s northern research orchard, visitors sampled apples from a breeding program that has developed 29 varieties, including Honeycrisp. Health Technology: Mayo Clinic in Rochester was ranked the world’s top smart hospital for 2027. Minnesota Innovation: 3M and AWS are expanding work on optical connectivity for AI data centers, while Google is investing $250,000 in skilled-trades training at Rochester Community and Technical College.

Clean-Energy Schools: Minnesota is nearing 400 solar-powered schools, more than double the number before its 2022 grant program. The state also funded 23 electric school buses, while solar projects are expected to save schools $46 million over 20 years. PFAS Response: Hastings residents can hear updates Oct. 27 on the city’s water-treatment plant, statewide PFAS legislation and efforts to address contamination. STEM Training: Google is investing $250,000 in Rochester Community and Technical College: $150,000 for its Cyber Clinic and Teaching Lab, and $100,000 for skilled-trades training. Innovation Investment: Eagan approved Ecolab’s plans for a $500 million global innovation center, a major local bet on research and technology.

Biotech: Minneapolis-based Celcuity presented updated Phase 3 results for a breast cancer drug at the ESMO Congress. Among patients without liver metastases, progression-free survival was 21.5 months with the drug combination, compared with 9.1 months for the standard-treatment group. Surgical Technology: Lakewood Health in Staples will show off its new da Vinci 5 robotic surgery system at a public open house Nov. 9, with demonstrations and a chance to try the controls. Water Quality: Researchers warned that nitrate pollution threatens drinking water in central Minnesota’s Central Sands, where sandy soil lets fertilizer seep into groundwater. River Science: Water quality varies across the Sunrise River system; some stretches support aquatic life, while others are impaired. Wildlife Health: Central Lakes College hosts a free Oct. 26 forum with University of Minnesota and DNR experts on managing chronic wasting disease in Minnesota deer.

Ag-Tech Research: University of Minnesota researchers have launched Vireo Ag to turn crop gene-editing research into faster crop development. Health Technology: Mayo Clinic in Rochester was ranked the world’s No. 1 smart hospital for 2027; a survey of hospitals found AI adoption varies widely. Data-Center Technology: 3M and AWS will scale 3M’s optical connectivity platform for data centers, with more than 100 new jobs planned across Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin through 2027. Clean Energy: Minnesota is on track to reach 400 solar-powered schools by year’s end, while electric buses and solar panels reshape districts. Space: A metal object found in a western Minnesota cornfield may be debris from a Chinese rocket.

Data Center Debate: Hermantown and Google reached a decommissioning agreement ahead of a local data-center vote, as Minnesota communities weigh the impacts of new tech infrastructure. Health Technology: Mayo Clinic in Rochester was named the world’s top smart hospital for 2027. University of Minnesota researchers also mapped where adults may qualify for lung-cancer screening, highlighting differences by county and population. Clean Energy: Minnesota is on track to reach 400 solar-powered schools by year’s end, while districts are adding electric buses and solar panels. Farm Research: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture opened $1.4 million in grants for agricultural research and education. Homegrown Innovation: Twin Cities 3D-printing pioneers Scott Crump and Jeff Cernohous received the inaugural Art Fry Product Innovation Award for their contributions to the field.

Space & Safety: An 11-foot metal object found in a western Minnesota cornfield may be debris from a Chinese rocket, renewing concerns about the risks of spacecraft re-entering over populated areas. Invasive Species: University of Minnesota researchers warn that Asian copperleaf, found in a Rice County cornfield, could spread into Minnesota crops if not caught early. Clean-Energy Schools: Minnesota expects to reach 400 solar-powered schools by year-end and has 23 electric school buses operating in 10 districts, giving students hands-on exposure to clean-energy technology. AI & Infrastructure: Minnesota’s governor candidates say communities should have a say in data-center projects, as the facilities raise questions about electricity, water use and AI’s effects on jobs. Health Technology: Mayo Clinic in Rochester was named the world’s top smart hospital for 2027.

Space Debris: An 11-foot metal object found in a Stevens County cornfield is believed to be part of a Chinese rocket, renewing concerns about falling rocket debris. Health Technology: Mayo Clinic in Rochester topped Newsweek’s 2027 list of the world’s smartest hospitals, which recognizes technology such as AI used in patient care. Minnesota Biotech: Minneapolis-based Celcuity is drawing investor attention ahead of new clinical data on its breast cancer drug. Agricultural Research: EarthOptics used soil-genome data to help Loam Bio secure USDA clearance to expand its biological product into more states without collecting new samples there. Eagan Innovation: Ecolab won approval for a planned $500 million global innovation center. STEM Education: A robotics conference in Perham will bring northern Minnesota students together for a meet.

Innovation Investment: Eagan approved Ecolab’s plans for a $500 million global innovation center, a major expansion of Minnesota’s research and development footprint. University Research: The University of Minnesota plans $225 million in systemwide budget cuts over two years, raising questions about effects on students, faculty and research. Space Debris: An 11-foot object believed to be part of a Chinese rocket was found in a Minnesota cornfield, prompting a federal investigation. Farm Technology: An autonomous grain cart demonstrated near Adrian lets farmers direct equipment by tablet, potentially easing seasonal labor shortages. Data-Center Tech: 3M and Amazon Web Services are expanding work on optical connectivity for AI data centers, with more than 100 new 3M roles planned across Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin. Energy Storage: A Minnesota battery deal would secure 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage, described as the largest announced project of its kind.

Minnesota Industry: 3M raised its 2026 profit forecast, citing demand from AI data centers, even as 62 workers face layoffs when its Fairmont plant closes in December. Energy Storage: A Minnesota battery deal tied to 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage marks the largest energy-storage project announced worldwide by capacity. University Research: A University of Minnesota study linked kombucha to reduced depression-like behaviors in mice; the findings do not establish an effect in people. Water Quality: Nitrate contamination remains a concern in southeast Minnesota private wells.

Cancer Research: A Mayo Clinic study found that people later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer had sharper declines in body fat in the three years before diagnosis. AI analysis of routine CT scans could help researchers spot early warning signs, though the findings do not yet establish a screening method. Energy Infrastructure: The proposed Gopher-Badger Link transmission line is drawing opposition from southeastern Minnesota landowners. The 765-kilovolt project is still under review, and no route has been approved. Water Quality: Nitrate levels are trending downward in southeast Minnesota, but 7.4% of 363 sampled private wells exceeded the state health limit in 2025. Space: An 11-foot metal object found in a Stevens County cornfield may be debris from a Chinese rocket, based on its size and likely flight path.

Agricultural Research: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is offering $1.4 million in grants for fertilizer, regenerative agriculture and water-quality research. Applications are due Nov. 25. Space Science: University of Minnesota researchers helped measure helium from the universe’s first five minutes with 0.5% precision, sharpening a key test of physics models. Clean Energy: A Minnesota battery deal would secure 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage, described as the largest energy-storage project announced worldwide by capacity. Climate Research: Native prairie near Moorhead is helping store carbon; University of Minnesota research estimates an acre can remove about a ton of carbon from the air each year.**

Medical Technology: Minneapolis-based Anteris won German clearance to add trial sites for its heart valve, expanding a global study of treatment for severe aortic stenosis. PFAS: 3M is challenging Australia’s landmark lawsuit seeking more than A$2 billion over contamination from its firefighting foam; in Minnesota, PFAS in fish remains a concern, with testing gaps reported. Crop Science: University of Minnesota researchers found that early heat and drought can leave lasting effects on corn, and that drought tolerance alone may not predict how plants handle both stresses. Energy Storage: A Minnesota battery deal has secured 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage, described as the largest project of its kind announced. Space Investigation: Federal agents are investigating a metal object found in a Minnesota cornfield that may have fallen from space.

Medical Research: University of Minnesota researchers revived pig kidneys frozen for more than a year, then transplanted them into pigs, a step toward longer-term organ storage. The findings are in a preprint and have not yet undergone peer review. Autonomous Flight: Honeywell’s team used Shield AI software to achieve autonomous flight after six weeks of training, down from an estimated 54; the aircraft demonstration took place in Plymouth. Space Science: A University of Minnesota-led study used ALMA observations of the “Gomez’s Hamburger” disk to investigate how giant planets may form. Energy Storage: A Minnesota battery deal for 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage is being described as the largest announced energy-storage project by capacity. Water Quality: A review found nearly 1,000 Minnesota lakes and 4,200 river miles downstream of sites with concerning PFAS groundwater levels, while many have not been tested for the chemicals in fish. E-bike Design: Minnesota-based Monarc now sells its e-bikes without batteries, offering a lower-cost option for owners who already have compatible ones.

Critical Materials: A global helium shortage is threatening technology and medical supply chains. Minnesota’s Pulsar Helium has chosen Two Harbors for a rare-gas hub, putting the state in the conversation about supply. Energy Storage: A Minnesota battery deal secures 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air storage, a project described as the largest of its kind announced worldwide. Tech Investment: DigiKey plans $100 million in expansion projects over the next 18 months. Water Quality: A new report says PFAS contamination is widespread in Minnesota waterways, while Park Rapids residents and experts are set to discuss nitrate pollution in drinking water. Data Centers: Minneapolis is weighing new data-center rules, and southeast Minnesota cities are developing a toolkit to evaluate proposals.

Energy Storage: A Minnesota project is at the center of a record-setting deal for 30 gigawatt-hours of iron-air batteries. Planned for Pine Island, the Form Energy system is designed to store renewable power for days, using iron, air and water. Technology Jobs: DigiKey plans to invest $100 million in expansion projects over the next 18 months, including distribution and packing automation. Water Quality: A new report says PFAS are widespread in Minnesota waterways, including Duluth’s Tischer Creek, renewing concerns about contamination across the state. Space Investigation: A mysterious metal object found in a Minnesota cornfield is believed to be space debris, prompting a federal investigation.