A five-county region in Eastern North Carolina stands grow into a stronger force in life sciences, according to a report released Feb. 21.
"Building the Life Science Community in the NC BioEast Alliance Region" outlines five strategies to increase the number of life sciences companies and jobs in Edgecombe, Nash, Pitt, Wayne, and Wilson counties, the newly formed NC BioEast Alliance. The study was funded in part by a Biotechnology Center Regional Development Grant in 2007.
The five strategies are:
- Unite the five counties into a single marketing unit.
- Foster a repatriation program to bring former area residents and their businesses back to Eastern North Carolina.
- Create virtual models of buildings that can be customized to show businesses looking for a home.
- Expand faculty recruitment to build a strong foundation of scientific research at East Carolina University
- Build research institutes at ECU