3M Co., Nobel Prize organization form partnership

Nobel laureates could come to 3M's Maplewood campus to meet with scientists and researchers under a new partnership.

3M Co. has formed a partnership with the organization behind Nobel Prize activities in an effort to inspire scientists and educate researchers, students and innovators worldwide, officials announced Friday during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of 3M's new $150 million research and development center in Maplewood.

CEO Inge Thulin said the details of the partnership are still being worked out, but in addition to laureates coming here, 3M's scientists will attend co-sponsored events around the world.

For example, 3M will sponsor the Nobel Prize Series in Dubai on March 20 and 21. Thulin would not disclose costs involved with the project.

"We are honored to align 3M and everything we stand for with Nobel Media and the values embodied by the Nobel Prize," the Sweden-born Thulin said.

Mattias Fyrenius, chief executive of Nobel Media, flew to Minneapolis for the announcement. He said he was delighted to partner with Thulin and 3M. "Through science and research we can enlarge the world's knowledge and actually make the world a better place," he said.

Nobel Media is the entity that shares news about all Nobel Prize-related achievements, including lectures by Nobel laureates and all activities related to the actual prize presentations. The company produces, broadcasts and sponsors events that reach millions.

"At Nobel Media, our passion is to share that view with the world and to inspire people to engage in areas close to our heart: science research, education and peace-related topics and literature," Fyrenius said. "We believe we share all those values with 3M and we are therefore proud to announce our new partnership with them."

The partnership will likely cosponsor two or three events a year, he said.

The news was met with strong applause from 150 guests that included Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Tom Emmer, as well as state legislators and Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik.

3M's new 470,000-square-foot research center will house 700 scientists from six of the company's divisions and officials hope it will enhance collaboration among the researchers.

"It's impossible to overstate [3M's] importance to Minnesota. If Minnesota is the brain power state, which it is, then many of those brains are here at 3M," Dayton said. "I cannot express enough … how grateful we are that you have chosen Minnesota" for the site of the new state of the art research center."

Dee DePass • 612-673-7725