Piedmont Triad International Bioscience Business Center to be Formalized
Posted: 07-28-2009 : GREENSBORO, N.C.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Greensboro Chamber and the NC Biotechnology Center are announcing the formation of a new center that will accelerate market entry and economic development of International Bioscience Companies coming into the Piedmont Triad region and North Carolina. The center will be managed by the Greensboro Chamber and supported by Forsyth Technical Community College, the Winston Salem Chamber of Commerce, Duke Energy, Guilford Technical Community College, Piedmont Triad Research Park, and Gateway University Research Park to ensure its success.

The Piedmont Triad International Bioscience Business Center was formalized in a signing ceremony between the eight sponsoring organizations on Monday July 27th at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

The Center will ultimately provide assistance with business organization, intellectual property protection, regulatory counseling, market channel development, and connections to capital for international bioscience companies seeking to enter the Piedmont Triad. The center will be a turn-key location for doing business when visiting the region and will be a central point of contact to establish connections between companies and governments, research universities and parks, business incubators, and licensing venues.

“We are thrilled to be the managing partner for the Bioscience Business Center,” commented Greensboro Chamber President Rob Clapper. “With the partnership of the NC Biotechnology Center and the support of the research parks, the Winston-Salem Chamber, the community colleges, and Duke Energy, this collaboration is going to be really successful.”

Gwyn Riddick, Regional Director of the Piedmont Triad Office of the NC Biotechnology Center commented, “The International Bioscience Business Center has the potential to truly streamline the entry process for bioscience companies looking at North Carolina and specifically the Piedmont Triad Region and to have an important economic impact over the next few years.”

Instead of building a physical facility, the partners will use existing space within their own facilities to house international bioscience companies as they enter the market. The center is a part of the Greensboro Chamber’s comprehensive entrepreneurship initiative, announced in early 2009 after the Piedmont Triad Entrepreneurial Network (PTEN) dissolved and the Chamber took over many of their programs, continuing the work of connecting entrepreneurs with necessary resources to achieve success. The Chamber along with many community partners, is working to transform Greensboro and the Triad into an area known as an excellent place to start entrepreneurial ventures.

The Chamber of Commerce is Greensboro’s premiere business association, working to build a vibrant economy one business at a time through a comprehensive entrepreneurial strategy, unique educational programs, leadership training, and opportunities to network with key business leaders. The Chamber is a member of the Greensboro Partnership, united with Greensboro Economic Development Alliance and Action Greensboro to create a growing economy and vibrant quality of life. To learn more about the Chamber and its activities in the community visit www.greensborochamber.com.

The Biotechnology Center is a private, non-profit corporation supported by the N.C. General Assembly. Its mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina by supporting biotechnology research, business, education and strategic policy statewide. Visit our Web site at www.ncbiotech.org.