*********************************
There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
*********************************
Summary Sentence: Conference focuses on challenges, opportunities within industry
Full Summary: No summary paragraph submitted.
Renewable Bioproducts InstituteThe Renewable Bioproducts Institute will host dozens of industry executives in March to discuss emerging research needs and trends in the bioeconomy.
The annual spring meeting, entitled “Developing and Advancing Opportunities in the
Bioeconomy,” will be held at the Paper Tricentennial Building, March 10-11.
This year three concurrent tracks moderated by leading experts in their fields of research will feature faculty presentations on research directions and opportunities in key strategic areas.
Afternoon workshops will follow, along with discussion regarding the translation of these advances into real-world opportunities within the developing bioeconomy. The three tracks are
“Catalytic Advances in Biochemical Production,” “Biocomposites and Nanocellulose” and
“Operational Excellence in Advanced Paper and Packaging."
Verdezyne Corporation Chief Business Officer Ray Miller will deliver the keynote address, offering a case study in commercialization of biobased products.
“We are approaching the conference in a slightly different way this year,” said Norman Marsolan, RBI executive director. “We felt we wanted to emphasize the opportunity for company input, allowing these executives to hear the current research and participate in a full afternoon of brainstorming and discussion on that particular track topic. It gives industry and faculty the ability
to concentrate their energies in a focused area throughout their time here.”
Marsolan is encouraging companies to send multiple representatives so as to engage in the discussion of more than one topic.
“It’s a unique opportunity for companies. There are few conferences out there with this type of upclose interaction with those directing research. The ability to take advantage of and influence our endowment-sponsored student research is another distinction.”
RBI’s endowment sponsors about 50 PhD students, and more than 30 are registered to participate in the annual poster competition. Six students will be featured speakers during the conference. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet these students, and discuss how their research could be valuable or made more relevant to their companies. Finally, the conference allows companies to influence the future research conducted at RBI.
“During the discussion sessions, we listen to the input, and that input has a direct impact on how we tailor our programs and future research projects to create opportunity for their business.”
For more information, visit the RBI conference site.
