Florida Sea Grant is working to enhance both the immediate quality of and the future funding base for research and education in marine biotechnology statewide. To do this it is facilitating a collegial approach by university and non-profit laboratory scientists and educators, and industry colleagues. Ultimately, this will promote job growth, international economic competitiveness and environmental benefits for Florida.
Successes to date include:
- establishing a coherent source of funds for research and graduate student training, so that Federal fisheries managers are using a genetic fingerprinting technique for enforcement of shark harvest regulations
- initiating outreach to inform business development and public audiences about marine biotechnology, for example by producing a new magazine on numerous advances in research
- fostering a statewide network and forum for exchange among university and laboratory faculty, including conduct of the fourth statewide summit in this field
- promoting Florida’s position among states that are national leaders in this field, with guidance from a new industry advisory panel
- initiating an effort to establish long-term funding for research, education and development
- developing technical exchange and cooperation between faculty and industry including its statewide trade association for biotechnology, and funding research that has led to formation of a new marine life sciences business
Florida Marine Biotechnology Summit IV
Held in Boca Raton, the summit and joint BioFlorida Conference attracted the highest number of participants yet (430) and showcased dozens of research projects for academia and industry.
TP-110: Florida Marine Biotechnology: Research, Development and Training Capabilities to Advance Science and Commerce
The level of activity and interest in “marine biotechnology” among Florida university faculty and allied laboratory scientists is reported in this document. The information will be used to (1) promote networking and collaboration in research and education, (2) inform industry of possible academic partners, (3) identify contacts interested in potential new sources of funding, and (4) assist development of funding for a statewide marine biotechnology research, training and development program. View PDF