Wilmington Wins 2015 BioMarine Business Convention

Wilmington's waterfront. Photo courtesy of NC Department of Commerce

A prestigious annual gathering of international science and business leaders focused on the sustainable harvesting of riches from the oceans has chosen Wilmington for its 2015 convention.

The selection of the North Carolina port city was confirmed during this week’s BioMarine Business Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The decision by BioMarine convention officials came as a result of their February 2013 visit to North Carolina organized by two leaders of the state’s marine-related economic development: Randall Johnson, MBA, executive director of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Southeastern Office; and Deborah Mosca, Ph.D., CEO of the Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation.

The group visited NCBiotech headquarters and other venues in and around Research Triangle Park as well as marine and convention assets in Wilmington.

"We're excited to work with BioMarine to bring the international BioMarine Business Convention to Wilmington in 2015," said Johnson. "This will bring an impressive group of company and government leaders from across the globe to facilitate international business deals and to showcase the wealth of marine biotech assets and commercial opportunities in Wilmington, in Carteret County, and across the state, for economic development gains."

Members of the North Carolina delegation are joined by BioMarine officials at the 2013 BioMarine Business Convention in Halifax. They include (from left): Giles Shih of BioResource International; Veronique Erwes of BioMarine; Nancy Ward of the NC Department of Commerce; Deborah Mosca of the Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation; Randall Johnson of NCBiotech; Pierre Erwes of BioMarine; and John Loyack of NC Commerce.

A contingent of North Carolinians was among the hundreds participating in the 2013 Halifax event
Sept. 9 through 12. NCBiotech was one of 18 sponsors of the event at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Centre.

Mosca and Jeffrey Wright, professor of marine science, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s MARBIONC, were among more than 100 speakers. Also participating, besides Johnson, were:

  • Jason Caplan, president and CEO of EnSolve Biosystems
  • Steve Fontana, senior technology development officer for MARBIONC
  • John Hayes, co-founder and managing partner of ShellBond
  • Giles Shih, president and CEO of BioResource International
  • Nancy Ward and John Loyack of the North Carolina Department of Commerce

The program included a series of interactive sessions, networking opportunities, and speeches from international senior executives, top experts and dignitaries.

Hundreds of people gather for the conference each year to consider investment in and commercialization of marine biotech assets. The opportunities are vast, including applications ranging from health and cosmetics to waste remediation and by-product utilization, from algae production and renewable energy to marine fish farming and aquafeed.

Johnson and Mosca expect 250 to 300 people from around the world will gather in Wilmington for the convention in 2015.

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