As a powerhouse in both marine science and biotechnology research, North Carolina (NC) is poised to become a global hub for marine biotechnology in the 21st century. To facilitate that process, the Marine Bio-Technologies Center of Innovation (MBCOI) was established in 2012 through an inception grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC). As an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, MBCOI seeks to facilitate the translation of innovative marine-related discoveries into products and services to benefit North Carolina’s economy. By combining a regional focus with a global perspective, MBCOI will become the NEXUS for information, collaboration, and commercialization of marine biotechnologies among our stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.