Novozymes Receives First Leadership Award From N.C. Biotech Center

, a developer of enzymes designed to bring down the costs of bio-fuels, is the first recipient of the Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Award from the

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

.

Executives of Novozymes will receive the award later this week at an international biotechnology conference in Toronto. Novozymes North America is part of Novozymes, an international firm based in Denmark with operations around the world.

"I can't imagine we could find a more fitting example than Novozymes to inaugurate this annual recognition program," said Ken Tindall, senior vice president for science and business development at the Biotech Center, in a statement. "First of all, this firm has worked with grants from the Biotechnology Center and federal agencies and in just five years has managed a 30-fold decrease in the cost of enzymes needed for production of ethanol from cellulose biomass such as corn stover. This is already a major contribution to the nation's growing biofuel production activity."

The company has also been active in educational programs for both its employees and the community, Tindal added.

"Perhaps even more impressive," Tindall said, "is Novozymes' historical commitment to biotechnology education. The company's community college-based workforce training collaborations with the Biotechnology Center have led to the acclaimed BioWork course, which the Biotechnology Center ultimately developed and published for use by the community college system statewide."

Novozymes donated $250,000 to help launch a biowork course at Vance Granville Community College and also donated equipment worth $52,000 for training purposes. The company is also active in other training programs.

"It's especially gratifying to have this award reflect both our science and our community commitment," said Novozymes North America President Thomas Nagy. "It's another significant way to share the news of our success with the workers, the educators, the customers and the business-support institutions of this wonderful state who have helped us grow and prosper."