- Largest concentration of medical device manufacturers in the Carolinas
- Over 40,000 degrees awarded in science, engineering and technology disciplines in North and South Carolina’s public universities, including UNC Charlotte, University of South Carolina, Duke University and Clemson University
- More than 10,000 workers employed in the region's health and life sciences sector
- Home to third-largest public healthcare system in the U.S. – Carolinas HealthCare System
- North Carolina Research Campus, a $1 billion 350-acre biotech campus in Kannapolis, N.C., collaborative research programs of private biotechnology companies, healthcare companies, seven universities in the University of North Carolina system plus Duke University
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Human
Nutrition Center to be housed at the North Carolina Research Campus; facility will be one of seven operated by USDA nationwide to use biotechnology to help fight obesity, diabetes and cancer - UNC Charlotte’s Bioinformatics Research Center, a $35 million, 75,000-sf facility housing wet/dry laboratories and core facilities for gene expression, proteomics, microscopy, crystallography and computing
- Community college workforce training programs in health/life sciences at Gaston College, Cleveland Community College, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Central Piedmont Community College
- Three outstanding healthcare systems are able to leverage Charlotte’s patient base for important clinical research – the Blumenthal, Presbyterian, and Batte Cancer Centers are actively engaged in national clinical trials for promising new cancer treatments.
- Availability of large patient base – with 2.6 million residents, Charlotte’s population alone creates a large demand for new and innovative cancer treatments. As the largest in the Carolinas, Charlotte’s medical patient base is comparable to those of some of the country’s largest university research medical centers.
Recent Announcements
- Swiss-owned Biotage LLC’s commitment to move 30 jobs and a medical instrument repair depot and customer contact center to Charlotte from Virginia
- LabCorp’s agreement to operate a 40,000-sq-ft biorepository at the new North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis; the facility will store human biological samples for academic centers, research organizations, healthcare providers and biotechnology companies
- Premier, a global healthcare company, headquarters move from San Diego to Charlotte, adding 300 new jobs and a $17.7 million investment in the new facility
- BSN Jobst $2 million expansion of manufacturing capabilities for its orthopedic and bracing products, adding 25 jobs and 50,000 sq. ft. of new space
- Lovelance Respiratory Research Institute, Monsanto, General Mills, Sensory Spectrum, Anatomics and Angiogen are private companies at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, N.C.
- Solectron Corp.’s and CSA Medical Inc. producing a device that cryogenically freezes and kills cancer tissue in airways and the digestive tract. Production at the 1,000-employee facility started in summer 2007.
- Groninger USA LLC, a German-owned manufacturer of high-precision filling machines for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, U.S. operations relocated from New Jersey to Charlotte.
Reports & Profiles
- Profile of health & life sciences sector
- Profile of health sector - German
- Profile of health sector - French
- Profile of North Carolina Research Campus
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2010 February: Greater Charlotte Biopharma Manufacturing, Labor Market Analysis
- Research conducted by Biggins, Lacy & Shapiro to assess the capability of region’s labor force to sustain significant biopharmaceutical manufacturing plant investments
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2008 North Carolina Impact of Biotechnology Sector Study
- Funded by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to study the statewide impact of biotechnology
- Prepared by the Batelle Technology Partnership Practice
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2007: North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Advanced Medical Technologies
- Launched in October 2006, this study was undertaken by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center study analyzes North Carolina’s existing medical device and convergent medical technology assets and their economic potential.






