Rapid advances in biofuel research and development are being driven by concerns about the environment and the need for renewable fuels, according to top industry and government officials attending the second annual Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in Honolulu this week.

The second annual summit brought together 340 biotechnology and bioenergy business executives, scientists, academics and government officials to review progress in developing the bioenergy industry. The conference was hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the American Chemical Society and the state of Hawaii.

"Building new business partnerships within the bioenergy industry, particularly along the Pacific Rim, was a primary objective of the summit," said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO's Industrial and Environmental Section.

"As we heard from our plenary speakers, government policies that support development of the industry, which are being driven by concerns about the environment and future economic growth, have been vital in attracting the private investment needed to make this industry successful. Pacific Rim countries have been in the lead in implementing these policies," he said.

The summit featured more than 100 presentations from researchers and scientists, discussing biotechnology applications in energy, marine biotechnology, fine chemicals and bio-based products. The summit also facilitated more than 45 meetings among companies seeking partnerships for the commercialization of new bioenergy research and applications.

Keynote speakers at the summit included Jiayang Li, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and James Spaeth, manager of biomass research at the U.S. Department of Energy.

BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 31 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare and agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology.