About Us

As a key source of highly trained workers and the research that fuels innovation, higher education is critical to North Carolina's economic future. NCBIO has been an important advocate for expanded educational and research opportunities for our students, just as it has strongly supported new opportunities for the state's bioscience companies.

Mission

Formed in 1994, the North Carolina Biosciences Organization focuses primarily on legislative monitoring and lobbying activities at the state and federal level. At the state level, the Organization represents North Carolina 's bioscience industry at the North Carolina General Assembly and before state courts, regulatory agencies and executive branch policy leaders. At the national level, NCBIO works with the national Biotechnology Industry Organization to support appropriate federal policies and to keep members of North Carolina 's congressional delegation informed as to industry needs and priorities. Whenever possible, NCBIO collaborates with other nonprofit organizations and trade associations to strengthen the bioscience industry.

In recent years, the Organization has expanded its activities to provide member companies with increased opportunities for collaboration in areas outside the public policy arena. In 2002, NCBIO formed its first membership working group, now formally organized as the NCBIO Biomanufacturers Forum. The Forum focuses on issues of common interest, including regulation, employee certification and workforce training. More recently, NCBIO has established a new membership forum for Emerging Companies. The Organization is exploring similar initiatives for the pharmaceutical, agricultural and medical device sectors of its membership.

Membership

NCBIO's membership represents all sectors of North Carolina's bioscience industry including emerging businesses, pharmaceutical research and manufacturing companies, medical device firms, clinical research organizations, venture investors, universities and service industries. NCBIO serves the third largest state biotechnology cluster in the nation, comprising more than 150 companies and 18,000 employees.

Governance

NCBIO is fortunate to enjoy the leadership of a Board of Directors comprised of corporate executives and experts from throughout North Carolina’s bioscience community. The Board oversees the work of NCBIO Executive Vice President Sam Taylor and supporting staff. A five member Executive Committee meets monthly to guide and support the Organization’s advocacy and membership service programs.

Other Organizations

Unlike most states, where bioscience industry trade associations are the sole providers of advocacy and support services for bioscience companies, North Carolina companies enjoy support from a variety of non-profit organizations charted to support biotechnology and high technology businesses. NCBIO is pleased to work in partnership with these organizations to serve North Carolina 's life science and knowledge economy companies.

NCBIO has consistently worked to collaborate with each of these entities to maximize support for the bioscience industry. For example, the Organization co-sponsors the following events with one or more of the entities listed above

Biotech Day (NCBC, CED)
Biotech Roundtable (NCBC, CED)
Venture Capital Fairs (CED)

Strategic Plan

In 2003, NCBIO completed a comprehensive strategic planning process aimed at optimizing its effectiveness as an advocacy and membership support organization. Goals identified in the strategic planning process include building on the Organization's successful public policy advocacy efforts, diversifying and increasing membership, collaborating with other organizations to leverage resources and assure cooperation, increasing the visibility of the bioscience industry as a source of new jobs and improved quality of life, and expanding the Organization's operational capacity by leveraging additional manpower and consolidating organizational infrastructure.