North Carolina is an important center for life sciences. The state has over 840 companies in this field, employing about 75,000 people. This information comes from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech). NCBiotech is an organization that helps grow life sciences by offering money, connecting workers with jobs, and helping companies bring products to market.
One key feature of NCBiotech is its fully automated Career Center. This platform was recently updated and now lists nearly 2,000 job openings for life sciences professionals. That is 15 times more than before. This job platform helps companies find skilled workers and helps workers find jobs. Having a strong group of workers is very important for both old and new companies that want to create new products.
NCBiotech also provides funding programs to help companies during early technology development and business growth stages. These funds help startups reach important milestones and attract more investment. More than 255 North Carolina life sciences companies have received loans or convertible notes from NCBiotech. This support has led to almost 50 mergers, acquisitions, or initial public offerings (IPOs).
There have been recent federal regulatory updates that show North Carolina’s strong life sciences environment. For example, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in Durham got FDA approval to expand its drug ORLADEYO for children with hereditary angioedema (HAE). Also, Satsuma Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for Atzumi, a nasal powder device to treat migraines. These approvals show that North Carolina supports new ideas from research all the way to helping patients.
These facts show that North Carolina helps every step of the biotech process—from early research to making products and preparing the workforce.
Besides biotechnology, North Carolina is growing industries linked to life sciences in advanced manufacturing and aerospace. One example is JetZero’s $4.7 billion investment for a production plant at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. This plant will build the Z4 commercial all-wing airplane, which uses up to 50 percent less fuel than current jets. The plant will create over 14,500 new jobs, which is the biggest job announcement ever in North Carolina.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) supports this project. NC A&T is the top producer of African American engineering graduates in the country. The university, along with Guilford Technical Community College, provides workforce training programs designed to meet JetZero’s hiring needs. This close work between schools and companies helps North Carolina’s population of 5.5 million people—including more than 49,000 engineers—keep strong in innovation and manufacturing.
Governor Josh Stein said that low corporate tax rates (2.25%) and a cost of living about 5% lower than the national average make North Carolina attractive to companies like JetZero. These factors help create a good business environment that encourages more investments in high-tech manufacturing related to life sciences and health.
Agricultural biotechnology also plays a big role in North Carolina’s life sciences economy. The AgBio 2025 forum gathered over 100 people from North Carolina and Virginia to talk about agriculture and biotechnology connections. Agriculture biotechnology has an economic impact of $210 billion and supports about 430,000 jobs across many industries in the United States.
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a growing part of agricultural biotech. CEA uses technology like LED lights and advanced climate controls with traditional farming knowledge to create productive and sustainable farms. CEA creates new economic chances for rural areas by mixing new ideas with farming. One example from AgBio 2025 showed how waste heat from data centers can warm greenhouses. This idea combines technology with farming for efficiency.
However, agricultural biotech companies face several rules that make things hard. They often need approvals from three different government agencies that do not work together well. This makes it tough for new products and technologies to enter the market. The complicated rules slow down new ideas and make it hard for startup companies. Fixing these rules will be important for growth and connecting agriculture with biotech advances.
Patents are also a big issue. Getting a utility patent for agricultural biotechnology can cost $20,000 to $25,000 in the U.S., which is expensive for startups. Also, patent laws are different around the world. For example, Europe limits patents on plants, and Brazil does not allow patents on plants at all. This makes it harder for companies to grow internationally.
While North Carolina leads in many life sciences areas, San Diego’s RNA cluster shows how focusing on specific technology can create jobs and economic value. This cluster supports over 11,000 jobs and adds nearly $6 billion each year to the local economy. Jobs in San Diego’s RNA sector grew by 9% through 2021, and are expected to grow by another 13% by 2027. This growth ranks it second only to Boston among biotech hubs.
This cluster includes research and development, advanced manufacturing, medical labs, drug distribution, and consulting services. It received $59 million from the NIH during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped it keep growing quickly. San Diego is home to the University of California San Diego (UCSD), which ranks fifth in the country for RNA-related research funding.
AI and machine learning are widely used in San Diego’s RNA cluster, especially in software development jobs that are growing fast. Even though living costs are high and make it hard to find workers, San Diego keeps supporting new work in precision medicine and genetic therapies. It is an example for other life sciences areas.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are changing many parts of healthcare and life sciences research. Medical practice managers, owners, and IT staff need to understand these changes to keep work running smoothly and improve care for patients.
In life sciences development, AI helps at every step—from research and drug development to manufacturing and patient interaction. For instance, AI tools can analyze genetic data faster, cut down errors in clinical trials, and make pharmaceutical supply chains better.
AI-powered phone automation and answering services, like those from Simbo AI, help medical practices. These systems manage patient calls quickly without needing people to answer every call. This improves work flow, reduces costs, and makes patients happier by cutting wait times and missed calls.
Beyond phone systems, AI also automates appointment booking, insurance checks, and billing. This helps staff and makes the patient experience smoother. These tools connect with electronic health records (EHR) to keep data correct and consistent, which is important for following rules and keeping care continuous.
Organizations like NCBiotech and companies in North Carolina encourage using AI and digital tools because they make business easier, support big production, and cut mistakes that could affect product quality or patient safety. As AI continues to improve, these tools become essential for both hospitals and biotech companies to stay competitive.
Medical offices near life sciences centers like North Carolina have special chances to use the region’s growth. Many skilled workers graduate from schools like NC A&T and can find jobs through career centers supported by NCBiotech. These workers know both healthcare and new technologies like AI.
Using AI automation can help medical offices follow changing healthcare rules and reduce mistakes in paperwork. IT managers should know about these new tools to help install them safely and make sure they are secure and can work well with other systems.
Medical offices linked to this network may also join clinical trials or research work with biotech companies. Being part of this helps these offices improve their care and get noticed.
Economic development groups like NCBiotech help connect government, schools, private investors, and industry to strengthen life sciences. They bring resources together and help turn research into products and services that improve health.
This support does not only happen in North Carolina. San Diego’s RNA cluster and the Piedmont Triad’s aerospace and manufacturing growth with JetZero’s investment show how local projects can create jobs and help education and the economy in whole regions and the nation.
Efforts to prepare workers, give access to funds, and help with regulations make a good environment for life sciences companies to do well. For healthcare workers, this growth means better tests, treatments, and access to new ideas.
In short, economic development helps advance life sciences in North Carolina and similar areas by connecting companies, universities, government programs, and skilled workers. Using AI and automation supports these improvements, making both biotech and clinical work more efficient. Medical offices and healthcare groups in these communities can find ways to improve patient care, simplify operations, and help move medical science forward.
NCBiotech leads life science economic development in North Carolina, connecting professionals, companies, and funding seekers to advance ideas from research to the marketplace.
North Carolina is home to 840 life sciences companies that directly employ 75,000 people, along with 2,500 additional companies that support this thriving sector.
NCBiotech offers a fully automated Career Center site that connects life sciences companies with workforce talent, listing nearly 2,000 diverse job openings.
BioCryst received FDA acceptance to expand ORLADEYO for young HAE patients, while Satsuma Pharmaceuticals won approval for its acute migraine treatment device called Atzumi.
Emerging Company Development at NCBiotech invests in early-stage companies, helping them reach milestones and refine their business plans to attract funding.
NCBiotech offers resources such as lab spaces, meeting facilities, business analysis, and funding opportunities, helping entrepreneurs thrive in North Carolina.
NCBiotech provides research grants that fill funding gaps throughout the innovation continuum, supporting university development and commercialization of technologies.
NCBiotech organizes training and networking events to enhance career skills and connect professionals within the life sciences community.
Top-tier research universities, a strong talent pipeline, and a diverse ecosystem contribute to North Carolina’s leadership in the life sciences sector.
Local job seekers can easily find relevant positions in life sciences due to the increased variety and volume of job listings available through NCBiotech.
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