business and local government entities to develop

  innovative training and research opportunities.

  > Located off campus at the Carolina Commerce &

     Technology Center Park (COMtech), this new

     5,000 sq. ft. facility consists of laboratories for

     fermentation, chemistry, molecular biology and

     other life science technologies.

• NC Community College System—9 colleges across the region offering various programs for the

biotechnology sector.

  > BioNetwork—(www.ncbionetwork.org) a

     statewide initiative that connects community

     colleges across North Carolina, providing

     specialized training, curricula and equipment, to

     develop a world-class workforce for the

     biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life sciences

     industries. All Community Colleges serving the

     pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector are part

     of BioNetwork.

  > Biotechnology 2 Year Degree Program—The

     program is broad based in life and physical

     sciences, as well as incorporates techniques and

     applications used in a practical laboratory setting

     in the biotech industry. 

  > Bioworks—a 128-hour introductory course

     bringing together the basics of manufacturing

     technology and the fundamentals of science.

Some of the skills included in the BioWorks program:  

  > Cartrette Technology Center—houses the

     Agricultural Biotechnology, Environmental Science

     Technology, and other programs for Southeastern

     Community College.

  > Robeson Region Biotech Regional  

     Consortium—three year grant from National

     Science Foundation to provide professional

     development activities in biotechnology for high

     school teachers in Life Science and Agriculture

     curricula, as well as for regional community

     college and UNC-Pembroke staff.

• NC BioNetwork BioAg Center—coordinates education and training activities to help ensure the

state has a well-trained BioAgriculture technology

workforce.

• NCDA Research Centers—focus on research in

horticulture, plant diseases, and genetics.

Greenhouse space is available.

• NC Bio (www.ncbioscience.org)—trade association

for the NC Bioscience industry.

RECENT SUCESSES

Wilmington, N.C. (October 27, 2009)—PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq:PPDI) today announced it has entered into

an agreement to acquire Excel PharmaStudies, Inc.,

the market leader and one of the largest contract

research organizations in China, providing PPD additional capacity and expertise in this rapidly

growing market. It also significantly increases its

employee and client base in Asia Pacific.

Research Triangle Park, NC (October 5, 2009)—The North Carolina Biotechnology Center funded the University of North Carolina Wilmington $66,842 to help set up a pilot-scale finfish hatchery to produce

juvenile fish for the state’s emerging commercial saltwater fish-farming industry, and to conduct an economic analysis of hatchery.

Wilmington, N.C. (April 22, 2009)—Wilmington-based contract research organization PPD has expanded its global reach by opening an office in Tokyo, Japan, and

completing the acquisition of AbC.R.O., a contract

research organization with operations in Central and

Eastern Europe.

**Insufficient data.