University of North Carolina, Wilmington

UNC Wilmington is a comprehensive public research university and North Carolina’s coastal campus, pairing applied learning with a strong research enterprise. Industry engages through the CREST Research Park, where the Center for Marine Science, the MARBIONC building, and an 11,000‑sq‑ft shellfish hatchery sit alongside leasable wet labs. This co-location speeds collaboration with faculty and provides direct access to coastal field sites for testing. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. The Office of Innovation and Commercialization manages IP, licensing, and startup support in concert with the university’s entrepreneurship programs.