WILMINGTON, N.C., July 8, 2015 – BioMarine, the international investment platform dedicated to the development of marine bio-resources, announced that the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention will be held in Wilmington, North Carolina from October 12-14. This is the first time the convention will be hosted in the United States, with North Carolina selected due to its status as one of the top three biotechnology states in the country. The convention will take place at Union Station on the campus of Cape Fear Community College (CFCC), located at 502 N Front St.

The opportunities for the application of marine biotech assets are wide reaching, including aquaculture, animal feed, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, fuel/energy, waste remediation, bioplastics and more. During the convention, 300 international investors, business leaders and government officials will meet to consider investment in and commercialization of these assets, particularly biomass bioconversion for protein, oil and mineral recovery. The BioMarine industry is actively developing solutions to address the imminent shortage of protein. Today, vegetable protein from micro algae and seaweed extract feeds not only the aquaculture industry, but also the poultry, pork and cattle industries.

Senior executives, top experts and other dignitaries will address the attendees throughout the two-day meeting, which features live-streamed sessions, workshops, and extensive networking opportunities through one-to-one pre-scheduled business meetings and social events. New this year is a track dedicated to promoting investment in innovative small/medium enterprises. Discussions will specifically focus on advancing sustainable ocean harvesting and addressing the growing demand for protein. Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Scotland, Canada, France and the United States are expected to attend, among others.

BioMarine officials selected North Carolina following a February 2013 visit to the various marine and event locations in Wilmington, as well as to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center headquarters in Research Triangle Park (RTP). The state of North Carolina claims more than 300 miles of Atlantic coastline and 12,000 miles of estuarine shoreline. In addition, the state boasts several world-renowned research universities with programs related to marine sciences, as well as more than 600 biotech companies employing more than 60,000 people statewide.

Wilmington, in particular, is leading North Carolina’s marine biotech industry with the help of the Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation (MBCOI) based in the city. MBCOI facilitates the development of marine-related discoveries to benefit North Carolina’s economic growth. As one of the first members of the BioMarine International Clusters Association (BICA), MBCOI combines a regional focus with a global perspective to serve as the NEXUS for information, collaboration and commercialization of marine biotechnologies for its stakeholders. BICA aims to create international business relationships and advocate for research, development and commercialization of marine technologies.

Keynote speakers and panelists will be announced upon confirmation at a later date. For more information, please see the preliminary conference program here: http://www.biomarine.org/wilmington2015/program/. To register for the convention, please visit http://www.biomarine.org/wilmington2015/registration/.

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“As a leader in biotechnology, North Carolina is proud to host the 2015 BioMarine Business Convention in Wilmington,” said John W. Hardin, executive director of the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation (OSTI), North Carolina Department of Commerce. “The sea is one of our most precious resources, and we look forward to engaging with this esteemed group of international science and business leaders during the convention to collaborate on the development of innovative solutions to harvest bio resources in a sustainable fashion.”

“With world-class research universities and companies committed to unlocking the full potential of bio resources, North Carolina is the perfect choice for our first convention hosted in the United States,” said Pierre Erwes, Chairman of BioMarine. “The convention will be an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to meet, network and collaborate in order to responsibly utilize all that our planet’s oceans have to offer.”

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ABOUT BIOMARINE:

BioMarine is the only international investment platform dedicated to marine bio resources. The annual convention brings together 300 international investors, entrepreneurs and executives committed to innovation and collaboration in this growing global sector. In addition to acting as a platform for meetings and exchanges between industry professionals, BioMarine is above all the strategic center of action and initiatives for key stakeholders in the marine bio resources industry. Finance, research and industry stakeholders have learned to use the platform to diversify their knowledge, strengthen their existing partnerships and build new opportunities. To learn more, visit http://www.biomarine.org/.

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