Economic outlook in North Carolina focuses on marine biotech

The sea is offering the Wilmington area another path to prosperity as research and the business of marine biotechnology prepare to grow here. It’s “an industry that’s waiting to happen,” said Randall Johnson, director of the N.C. Biotechnology Center’s southeastern office.

And a new umbrella organization – the Marine Biotechnologies Center of Innovation – hopes to serve as a catalyst for growth and commercialization of marine biotech efforts, said its CEO, Deborah Mosca.

Mosca and a panel of other experts spoke about the field at a gathering Tuesday at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Burney Center. The upbeat marine biotech program was part of UNCW’s annual Economic Outlook Conference.