|
The Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center (OBIC)by Mauricio Espinoza, 2/10/06 The Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center (OBIC) is a new research initiative that integrates academia and industry toward the development of renewable specialty chemicals, polymers/plastics and advanced materials. The Center was funded in 2005 by the Ohio Department of Development through an $11.5 million Wright Center of Innovation (Third Frontier) award, leveraged with matching funds from external partners. OBIC is a unique endeavor because it builds on the strength of Ohio's two largest industries — agriculture and the chemicals, plastics and rubber materials sector — as well as the significant involvement of Battelle Memorial Institute, the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In an effort to provide value to industry partners, OBIC operates through a Cell-to-Sell approach: a market-pull business model designed to link genetics, biotechnology, chemical conversion and product development for the commercialization of bioproducts.
WHO ARE WE? OBIC is headquartered at The Ohio State University. The Center’s director is Dr. Stephen Myers, a researcher in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Alex Kawczak, vice president for bioproducts at Battelle, serves as chairman of the Board of Advisers. A truly collaborative effort, OBIC brings together Ohio’s leaders in the agricultural and specialty-chemical/advanced-materials industries. Members of the Board of Advisers include: Albemarle |
