Bakelite Synthetics Named Top Industry Partner of Louisiana Tech’s Forest Products Innovation Center
Bakelite Synthetics, a global leader in thermoset resin technology, announced today its strategic collaboration with Louisiana Tech University as the “Top Level” Industry Partner for the university’s forthcoming Forest Products Innovation Center. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainable innovation in forest products and marks a significant milestone in cross-sector cooperation between academia and industry.
This announcement not only underscores Bakelite Synthetics‘ leadership in applied chemistry and materials science but also highlights its broader mission of supporting future-forward, environmentally conscious innovation. As the top-tier design and construction industry partner, Bakelite will contribute essential expertise, financial resources, and real-world industry connections to enhance the research and development capabilities of the new facility.
Empowering Innovation Through Partnership
The Forest Products Innovation Center, currently in development, is designed to serve as a hub of scientific and technological advancement dedicated to Louisiana’s expansive and renewable forest resources. As part of Louisiana Tech’s Tech 2030 strategic initiative, the center is envisioned as a transformative facility that will drive innovation across forestry, engineering, materials science, and sustainable resource management.
Bakelite Synthetics’ role as a lead partner extends beyond sponsorship. The company will actively engage with Louisiana Tech students, faculty, and researchers to explore new solutions to the complex challenges facing the timber and forest products industries. This includes contributing to interdisciplinary research, helping define project scopes for applied learning, and assisting in the commercialization of research outcomes.
“Supporting the Forest Products Innovation Center as a Top Level Industry Partner is not just an investment in technology—it’s an investment in people and in the future of sustainable industry,” said JP Aucoin, President and CEO of Bakelite Synthetics. “Our collaboration with Louisiana Tech demonstrates our commitment to empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers while advancing innovative solutions that benefit both the timber industry and the planet.”
Bridging Academia and Industry
Bakelite’s involvement with the Innovation Center represents a model of modern industrial partnership. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world application, the company is helping shape a generation of students who are better prepared to meet the challenges of evolving global supply chains and resource sustainability.
The center will house a range of advanced research labs including those dedicated to engineered wood products, material testing, chemistry, and analytical studies—facilities that align closely with Bakelite’s extensive experience in developing resins, adhesives, and surface technologies used throughout the forest products sector.
Although Bakelite Synthetics is not a forest products company in the traditional sense, its products are critical enablers of the sector’s operations. The company’s thermosetting resins and adhesives are widely used in the manufacture of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), among other engineered wood products. Through this partnership, Bakelite will help integrate its applied chemical innovations into the academic setting, creating opportunities for students to work directly on challenges relevant to industry stakeholders.
Dr. Gary Kennedy, Dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences at Louisiana Tech University, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing the unique value that Bakelite brings to the center’s mission.
“We are thrilled to have Bakelite Synthetics as our Top Level Industry Partner. Their legacy of innovation and their focus on sustainability make them a perfect fit for the Forest Products Innovation Center,” said Dr. Kennedy. “Bakelite is the first corporation of its kind to partner with us—while not a forest products manufacturer per se, the company plays a crucial role in enabling the performance and environmental integrity of forest-based materials. Their involvement will add a dynamic layer to our research and education efforts.”
Catalyzing Sustainable Economic Growth
The Forest Products Innovation Center aims to catalyze economic development by promoting advanced manufacturing, sustainable materials research, and workforce development in forestry and related disciplines. Louisiana’s forests represent one of the most valuable renewable resources in the southeastern United States, with far-reaching impact on both the state’s economy and its environmental health.
By creating a centralized facility for research, innovation, and collaboration, the Center is expected to unlock new commercial pathways for forest products and create novel opportunities for public-private partnership. The presence of industry partners like Bakelite Synthetics ensures that the research produced is not only cutting-edge but also relevant and implementable at scale.
Through transdisciplinary collaboration between departments such as chemical engineering, industrial engineering, forestry, and supply chain management, the center will foster a culture of innovation designed to solve real-world problems—such as carbon footprint reduction, sustainable harvesting practices, and the development of environmentally friendly adhesives and coatings.
Bakelite’s Longstanding Commitment to Innovation
With more than a century of experience in polymer chemistry, Bakelite Synthetics holds a unique position in the materials innovation landscape. The company traces its origins to the early 20th century when its founder, Leo Baekeland, created Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic. Since then, the company has grown to become a key player in the production of thermosetting resins, which are used across industries ranging from automotive and construction to electronics and, notably, forest products.
Bakelite’s portfolio includes a wide array of sustainable solutions, including formaldehyde-free resins, low-emission binders, and coatings that enhance the longevity and performance of wood-based products. These advancements not only contribute to product durability but also help customers meet stringent environmental standards.
“Our legacy is built on creating better materials for a better world,” said Aucoin. “This partnership with Louisiana Tech extends that mission by ensuring that our innovations are shared with and shaped by the next generation of researchers, scientists, and engineers.”
Preparing the Next Generation
One of the most exciting aspects of the partnership is its potential to empower students through hands-on learning. Students involved with the Forest Products Innovation Center will have the opportunity to engage directly with Bakelite’s experts, gain access to industry-grade equipment and methods, and collaborate on research projects with tangible industry applications.
This real-world engagement will prepare students for careers in forest products, chemical manufacturing, and sustainable engineering, while also opening avenues for internships, mentorship, and employment with Bakelite and its partner companies.
Moreover, Bakelite’s presence on campus will help elevate the university’s reputation as a hub for innovation in sustainable materials and industrial chemistry. This collaboration will serve as a proof of concept for future partnerships between the university and forward-looking companies invested in shaping a more sustainable industrial future.
A Vision for Long-Term Impact
The establishment of the Forest Products Innovation Center and Bakelite’s leadership role within it reflect a larger movement toward industry-academic partnerships that prioritize sustainability, education, and regional economic development. The center will not only benefit Louisiana’s forestry sector but also stand as a model for how science, engineering, and business can work together to solve complex challenges.
With operations spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, Bakelite Synthetics brings global perspective to local challenges—and through this new partnership, it will help Louisiana Tech University position itself as a leader in sustainable forestry innovation.
As the center prepares for its grand opening, the foundation laid by Bakelite Synthetics ensures that this initiative will have the resources, expertise, and momentum needed to make a lasting difference.
