North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit organization located in Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...

, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

. Founded in 1984 by the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...

, it was the first state-sponsored biotechnology initiative in the nation, merging the interests of the academic private, and public sectors. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center's mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina through support of biotechnology research, business, education and strategic policy. It receives nearly all of its funding from the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...

.

Since 1984 the North Carolina Biotechnology Center has invested more than $187 million in state monies to develop biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

 statewide. It is not a site for laboratory research or company incubation, but it works to strengthen the research capabilities of North Carolina’s companies and universities.

Locations

The permanent headquarters of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...

 is a hub for work, learning and interaction. The buildings encompass 67000 square feet (6,224.5 m²) and is divided into three main parts:
  • A program-management center housing about 70 staff members;
  • A full-service biotechnology library, open to the public; and
  • The Hamner Conference Center.


In addition to its Research Triangle Park
Research Triangle Park
The Research Triangle Park is a research park in the United States. It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina...

 headquarters, the Center has five regional offices across the state:
  • Eastern North Carolina (Greenville
    Greenville, North Carolina
    Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...

    )
  • Greater Charlotte (Charlotte
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...

    )
  • Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem)
  • Southeastern North Carolina (Wilmington
    Wilmington, North Carolina
    Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

    )
  • Western North Carolina (Asheville)

Goals

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center works toward six goals:
  • 1. Strengthen North Carolina's academic and industrial biotechnology research capabilities.
  • 2. Foster North Carolina's biotechnology industrial development.
  • 3. Work with business, government and academia to move biotechnology from research to commercialization in North Carolina.
  • 4. Inform North Carolinians about the science, applications, benefits and issues of biotechnology.
  • 5. Enhance the teaching and workforce-training capabilities of North Carolina's educational institutions.
  • 6. Establish North Carolina as a preeminent international location for the biotechnology industry.

History

In 1981, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC) was created by the North Carolina General Assembly. At that time, the state’s General Assembly appointed a legislative study commission to determine how North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 could ensure long-term economic benefits from biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

. A yearlong study by the commission concluded that North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

 needed a private, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

 development.

Following that recommendation, state legislatures established the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in October 1984 as the world’s first government-sponsored biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...

center. Many visionary leaders championed the initiative, including Gov. James B. Hunt, Lt. Gov. Robert B. Jordan, state Sen. Kenneth Royall and Sen. Gerry Hancock and state Representative Bobby Etheridge.

The first president of the N.C. Biotechnology Center was Dr. Leon Golberg, previously head of the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology in RTP.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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