Gov. Bev Perdue intends to brand North Carolina as "the state of innovation."
Yesterday, as Perdue created the state's first Innovation Council, she said she believes that a major byproduct of its actions will be elevating the state of hope for North Carolinians.
Perdue announced the panel after taking a tour of the Institute of Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
"There is no place in North Carolina more important to innovation than right here," she said.
The goal of the council is brainstorming, Perdue said. It is charged with coming up with policies that nurture innovation at the academic, entrepreneurial, industrial, research and government levels, and eventually lead to more sustainable jobs across the work force spectrum.
"We need to ensure that our people understand innovation and understand why it is very important for kids in North Carolina to learn in a different way and think in a different way," Perdue said. "Their lives are going to be very different from the lives of the 1990s student. The economic edge they are going to have to have to be globally competitive is wrapped around curiosity, invention and innovation."
Although the idea for the council has been marinating for months, Perdue said that her recent trade trip to China cemented the notion that North Carolina cannot afford to fall behind the innovation curve.
"We realized that North Carolina needs to focus on the commercialization of biotechnology in a powerful way," Perdue said. "Innovation is North Carolina's launch pad to success in the global economy, and it's a primary way for us to maintain and sharpen our competitive edge."
The panel will be led by Steve Nelson, the chief executive of Wakefield Group, a venture-capital company that focuses on technology companies in North Carolina and the Southeast, and Al Delia, a senior director with the governor's office.
The most recognizable local appointee identified yesterday was Allen Joines, the mayor of Winston-Salem, who also is serving as chairman of the N.C. Economic Development Board.
The initial council also will include three members from the N.C. Board of Science and Technology and the economic-development board, representatives from the governor's office and the state Commerce and Treasurer departments, higher and secondary education, high-tech businesses, venture capitalists, nonprofit/trade groups with an innovation and economic development focus, and two representatives each from the state House and Senate.
"North Carolina has a rich history of innovation with its high-impact businesses, championed by world-class leaders and entrepreneurs," Nelson said. "The opportunity in front of us is to build on this strength."
Perdue said she was "blown away" by the innovations being developed at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, particularly those aimed at helping military personnel recover from battlefield injuries.
"The research and discovery here will give millions of people around the world hope," Perdue said. "You are harnessing the creative energy around regenerative medicine and helping bring product from the bench to the bedside, and that's as good as it gets in medicine."
Dr. Anthony Atala, the director of the institute, said that the council is the latest example of the synergy that's energizing biotechnology innovation in the state.
"The council helps show the dedication that the state has toward innovation," Atala said.
"It is this kind of effort that will enable us to advance our technologies and help us keep our edge and keep us moving forward despite our economic conditions of today."
rcraver@wsjournal.com
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