The biomarine
industry, under the umbrella of the BioMarine Business Convention, has set up a
new international association called BioMarine International Clusters
Association (BICA). It launched the BICA in Halifax, Canada, on September 9,
2013 as part of the 2013 BioMarine Business Convention.
The biomarine
industry is wider than just aquaculture and the organisers of BioMarine
Business Convention, which is held annually in different locations each year,
believe that there is significant synergy between the various marine-related
industries such as energy, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc to warrant an independent
association.
“The biomarine
industry is an emerging economic sector based on biotechnology and marine bio-resources,”
says Pierre Erwes, the chairman and co-founder of BioMarine Business Convention.
“This new
transversal industry sector brings a novel approach to economic growth and a
large potential for new business opportunities and jobs.
“The world of
marine bio-resources is a complex one with fast and changing boundaries
effecting on the one hand the industries involved and on the other hand the
various innovation processes. I have often emphasised throughout our BioMarine
Conventions how the disparity of our activities offer a world of opportunities
and synergies.
“By structuring
our marine bioresources industry with a transversal approach, we open new
walkways for applied research and development of international
collaboration, as well as numerous business opportunities. The biomarine
sector is a new source of economic development, one where the value chains
and the business models are still under development.
“Simultaneously,
the oceans are the only remaining truly unexplored resource, a resource we
cannot afford to ignore. Since we started the first BioMarine platform in
2008, I have been preparing this next big step forward to structure our
industry.”
Founding members
Bernard
Fautrier, CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and co-founder of
the BICA says, “The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is committed, among
others, to ocean sustainability and marine conservation.
“Environmental
issues in marine bioresources spheres are of considerable importance: energy,
health, food and environment. It appears that industry and finance are two
fundamental components of ocean sustainability. If we wish to foster the
development of ocean conservation we must increase collaboration between marine
stakeholders: research community, industry and investment sectors as well as
the civil society.”
As a leader in
marine bioresources, Norway is in a position to attest to the tremendous added
value of public-private partnerships especially when putting research projects
on the market.
Øystein Lie,
chairman of MareLife, Norway is also a founding member of BICA says access
to finance is always the most difficult part for an SME.
“On the other
side the investors need to foster their deal flow and make sure the scouting
process is accurate, with minimal risk.
MareLife and
BioMarine have joined together to provide a unique scouting platform that
guarantees minimal risk investment for VCs and private equity. BICA is a unique
global organisation that offers both SMEs and the investor a meeting place to
exchange, discuss and finalize deals.”
A third player
in BICA is the North Carolina Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation.
Deborah Mosca, its CEO and founding member of BICA, says, “MBCOI facilitates
collaboration on emerging marine biotechnologies between researchers, industry
and funding organisations to commercialise new scientific discoveries.
Centered in
Wilmington, North Carolina, MBCOI combines a regional focus with a global
perspective. North Carolina is a coastal state with a wealth of natural
resources and human capital invested in marine science. Pre-eminent marine
scientific communities have been established at several campuses within the University
of North Carolina system, such as Chapel Hill, East Carolina, State, and
Wilmington as well as private institutions such as Duke University.”
Their efforts
are supported by multiple state and federal organisations such as NC Sea
Grant, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental
Protection Agency and National Institute of Environmental Health Science.
Along with a
proximity to the Research Triangle Park, one of the nation’s largest and most
prestigious biotechnology clusters, MBCOI is centrally positioned to
facilitate partnerships between scientists and industry wherever they are
located.
“Our mission
in partnering with BICA is to provide a conduit for the global exchange of
ideas, perspectives and collaboration on a range of projects and programs. BICA
is a valuable resource committed to actively supporting and promoting
interdisciplinary biomarine research, development, and entrepreneurial
opportunities. MBCOI is proud to be a founding member of this organisation.”
Finally, Ilaria
Nardello, Marine Biotechnology Research Coordinator at the National University
of Ireland, Galway, and founding member of BICA, explains how the new
association can help the Irish marine biocluster.
“The Marine
Biotechnology Research Coordination unit (MBRC) at the National University of
Ireland Galway fosters collaborative research and development initiatives
between research centres, industry and development agencies, at the national
and international level.
“With the
support of national funding agencies and the EU, and in collaboration with
various institutes across the Island of Ireland, the aim for the MBRC is to
support the development of Ireland’s marine knowledge economy by connecting the
actors that, together, can contribute to societal innovation.
“Our focus is
on the area of health and well-being, with applications for the biomedical,
cosmeceutical and nutraceutical sectors. We believe that BICA can importantly
contribute to create awareness of the business opportunities connected
with marine biological knowledge and the importance of biotechnology in
achieving a sustainable exploitation of our resources. BICA can further support
our mission to develop a functionally interconnected marine biotech community
by exposing and exploring aggregation models and practices.
“BICA will
provide effective mechanisms for Ireland’s marine biotechnology R&D
capabilities to connect to the global sphere of sensible entrepreneurs,
investors and markets. It is through these connections that innovation occurs
to tackle the societal grand-challenges of sustainable food provision,
environment protection and increased well-being,”
BICA will
provide associates with international business contacts and networking tools to
enhance global communication and foster innovation through its think-tank
approach.
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| Albert II, Prince of Monaco (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
