Program areas at North Carolina Biotechnology Center
Our commercialization program combines the science and technology development and the emerging company development programs into one. Science and technology development program is a fundamental program of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The goal of this program is to strengthen the state's infrastructure for life science research which is an essential prerequisite for scientific advances leading to new products and applications. To meet this goal, the program provides services and support to state universities, colleges, and nonprofit institutions that contribute to life science development through research, teaching, and public service. Support is primarily provided in the form of grants. Since 1984, the program has provided over $143 million to enhance the research and intellectual capabilities of the state's academic and nonprofit research institutions. The emerging companies development program is the second largest program of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The goal of this program is to strengthen and support North Carolina life science companies with funding; technology assessment; strategic partnerships; business plan advice; networking and career transition support; information on venture capital and available laboratory space; and professional referrals. The loan program in particular provides loans to early stage companies. These loans are designed to support life science company inception, research, and growth.
The sector development program includes the emerging sector development, conference Center at nc biotech and life science intelligence programs. The conference Center is an event and meeting space solution for numerous life science companies, organizations and educational institutions. It includes meeting and catering services and co-working spaces. The lsi team's activities make it the largest at the Center. In addition to market intelligence, the team is responsible for network security and it support, technical support for the Center's website, corporate record retention and historical archives, management of the Center's client relationship management system, center-wide impact measurements, and project management.
The economic development program now includes statewide development, ag sector and life science development programs. The agricultural sector development program is a program of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center focused on the largest industry sector in the state - agriculture. The core focus of the program is to support the largest global economic cluster of agriculture Biotechnology in its continued growth and contribution. The agriculture Biotechnology program fosters a dynamic agriculture community, improves technology and value, and attracts and sustains jobs in agriculture to the state. Since 2010, many companies supporting thousands of jobs have been identified and engaged by the program.