The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation funded by the General Assembly to catalyze the growth of the state’s biotechnology industry. As part of its mission, the Biotechnology Center facilitates the exchange of ideas between diverse groups engaged in biotechnology research and commercialization. The space for these interactions is often provided by the Charles Hamner Conference Center, named for the Biotechnology Center’s president from 1988 to 2002. This service is provided to both the biotechnology community and to other appropriate groups.