17 Oct 2014
Natural Product Biotechnology (ICNPB) 2014, the international three day conference, will be taking place in Inverness this November and is set to attract several hundred delegates from right across the Natural Product supply chain. The city's Eden Court Theatre will play host from 18-20 November. The event builds on the success of previous smaller events, and has already confirmed several industry leaders as keynote speakers. Delegates registered so far include people from Canada and the USA, Ireland, Scandinavia, Indonesia and Brazil and the programme will feature over 100 oral, workshop and poster presentations.
The scope of the conference is the science, technology and regulation behind identifying, purifying and exploiting natural products – an area concerned with high value substances with biological activity – from marine sources (i.e. wild harvesting and aquaculture); native plants and crop species; and microbiological sources – and their relevance in drug discovery, food and health, cosmetics and personal care products and other industrial biotechnology processes. The high value natural product supply-chain has great significance for the Highlands and Islands, its unique environment and maritime climate supports rich sources of natural products and active compounds.
Confirmed speakers include Professor Peter Dettmar, one of the scientists behind the development of Gaviscon and Professors Andrea and Donald Stierle from the University of Montana who are well-regarded for their work with extremophiles. The conference's opening day will also feature addresses from Fergus Ewing MSP, Alex Paterson Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and Roger Kilburn, CEO of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).
Conference Director Jim Brown said:
'Natural Product Biotechnology will really challenge business and researcher leaders to push forward the bio-economy agenda. We will be presenting some very interesting original research - but blending that with a commercial focus to scope out how biodiversity can deliver answers to many of society's needs, using sustainable raw materials.'
Roger Kilburn, CEO at IBioIC added:
'The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) is delighted to be a sponsor of the Natural Product Biotechnology conference in Inverness this year. IBioIC recognises the extensive intellectual, physical and natural resources that exist in Scotland for IB and seeks to accelerate, catalyse and leverage the development of these to support Scottish Enterprise in its National Plan to create a £900 million industry by 2025. The unique natural environment and resources that exists in the Highlands makes Inverness an ideal host for this world class event, and we look forward to a stimulating and productive conference.'
Related Links
- Biotechnology Group
- Scotland Group
- Natural Product Biotechnology, 18 - 20 November 2014
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