Building a Life Sciences Sector

A recent white paper published by the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill explores how smart public policies are fostering North Carolina's life sciences sector. Authored by Nichola Lowe, an assistant professor of urban and regional planning, the paper documents how North Carolina is combining economic development activities and workforce development strategies to sustain and grow firms that manufacture drug therapies.

North Carolina's strategy stands apart from those in other states due to the special emphasis it places on developing the skilled employees that life science firms need to compete. The involvement of the state's model system of community colleges ensures that firms can find trained employees and that potential employees can find well-paying jobs. In that way, the approach creates a "win-win-win" outcome for employers, workers and the state as a whole.