THE CORPORATION INITIALLY FUNDED BY APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE EXPANSION OF THE STATE'S LONG-STANDING LIFE SCIENCES INITIATIVE BY WORKING WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FOCUS NORTH CAROLINA-BASED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN PROMISING MARINE BIO- TECHNOLOGIES AND TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE THE COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF SUCH TECHNOLOGIES IN WAYS THAT WILL SUSTAIN AND DIVERSIFY THE STATE'S ECONOMY IN THE FUTURE AND PROVIDE PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRESSED COASTAL AREA OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.