Piedmont Triad Life Sciences

Life sciences companies thrive in the Piedmont Triad because of its innovative business community, workforce development infrastructure and network of talented professionals.

The Piedmont Triad region is anchored by three large cities - Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point. This region is richly diverse with respect to life sciences subsectors, talent and resources that support corporate growth.

Leading companies, such as Cambrex, Cook Medical, ICON, and Labcorp, put this region on the map. The Piedmont Triad is well known for its research, testing and medical laboratories. Of the region's 150-plus life sciences companies, 34 are in this space.

Top universities and colleges continuously turn out a highly-skilled workforce. Nearly 8,300 life sciences professionals call the region home. Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and Gateway Research Park provide an array of resources and opportunities for collaboration for startups and growth companies.

Since 2020, the region has experienced strong growth with relocation and expansion announcements, with ProKidney and Thermo Fisher Scientific among the companies expanding.

Contact

Nancy Johnston
Executive Director
Piedmont Triad Office

South Campus Entrance

Life Sciences Assets

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Wake Forest University are the top research universities in the region. NC A&T ranks #1 in graduating black agricultural science undergraduates in the U.S. Elon University, High Point University, Alamance Community College, Forsyth Tech and Guilford Tech Community College also contribute to the region's talent pipeline. 

According to U.S. News & World Report, Wake Forest University's School of Medicine ranks 48 among research programs domestically. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) is an international leader in regenerative medicine. The Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy at High Point University integrates biomedical and clinical sciences to educate future pharmacists.

Bioneer group photo

Community

Leaders from across the region come together to serve on the Piedmont Triad Advisory Committee for Biotechnology. This group guides and coordinates efforts to further develop the region’s life sciences assets. The region also hosts several networking groups to connect life sciences professionals around scientific topics.

Triad BioNight

Triad BioNight

More than 400 attendees from industry, academia, startups and investors gathers every two years for Triad BioNight. This event celebrates the region’s life sciences growth, accomplishments and outstanding industry leaders in academic development, biotechnology community leadership, biotechnology service/support, entrepreneurship, and research & development. For more information, read this article.

Networking

Resources

NCBiotech can help facilitate connections. This means job seekers can use our Career Center. Additionally, we encourage Triad applicants to explore our funding programs for university research and startups. Our Life Science Intelligence team also offers market research resources at NCBiotech's Piedmont Triad office.

Triad

Location:
Centrally located in North Carolina
Home to Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and Gateway Research Park
Research Triangle Park is within an hour’s drive

Counties:
The Piedmont Triad includes Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties.

Population:
1.6 million residents
1.6% annual growth rate
Projected 2030 population: 2 million+

Transportation:
Large commercial airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)
Within an hour's drive from two additional airports with direct international departures
Four major interstates and numerous secondary routes
Ground and rail connectivity to seaports

University Research Activity:
R2 Universities: NC A&T University, UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest University
Doctoral/Professional Universities: Elon University, High Point University

Photo Credits:

Gateway Research Park

NCBiotech/P.Magoon

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