What are Regional Exchange Groups?
Regional Exchange Groups (REGs) are discussion groups sponsored by the NC Biotechnology Center that bring people together for information exchange on topics related to biotechnology. Regional Exchange Groups foster scientific information exchange, industry and academic partnerships, and professional networking opportunities. As a statewide program, the Regional Offices of the NC Biotechnology Center are directly involved in establishing Regional Exchange Groups.
Funding is available from the NC Biotechnology Center for reimbursement of meeting expenses. The level of funding varies with the needs of the group, and groups are expected to seek other sources of support to add to NC Biotechnology Center funds.
What do Regional Exchange Groups “look like”?
The focus of Regional Exchange Groups can be related to research, education, or economic development issues in biotechnology or the life sciences. Some REGs have a more general biotechnology or life science focus, while others have very specific scientific or economic development themes.
Regional Exchange Groups meet at least three times a year. Meetings typically involve guest speakers or panel discussions, followed by time for discussion and networking. Each REG has a Steering Committee which plans the topics and speakers and coordinates meeting logistics. The Steering Committee works with the NC Biotechnology Center Regional Office on administrative details and financial reimbursements.
How does someone start a Regional Exchange Group?
Persons interested in starting a Regional Exchange Group should contact the NC Biotechnology Center Regional Office director for their geographic area to discuss the topic and format being considered. Contact information for these offices can be found on the NC Biotechnology Center Web site at www.ncbiotech.org. The steps for preparing a proposal are outlined in the REG Application Guidelines, available upon request.
If you have any questions about the Regional Exchange Group program, please contact:
Deborah De
Statewide Programs Manager
NC Biotechnology Center
deborah_de@ncbiotech.org
(
919) 549-8845