North Carolina Biotechnology Center Release: Biomanufacturing: It's Working In North Carolina

PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The North Carolina Biotechnology Center is inviting life science companies to put the state's biomanufacturing training programs to the test this week at the annual BIO International Convention.

Bring your biggest training need to the North Carolina Pavilion, booth #4235, today through Thursday in Philadelphia.

Representatives of the state's three NCBioImpact training partners will be on hand to explain worker preparation expertise that includes:

• cGMP training
• QA, QC and product validation
• Large and small molecules
• Even facility engineering needs

In North Carolina, a three-way partnership trains and retrains the labor force of 21,000 that staffs the state's 105 production and manufacturing facilities. The partnership serves students pursuing associate's, bachelor's and advanced degrees, and also provides short courses, certificates and custom training. The partnership includes:

• BioNetwork, part of the North Carolina Community College System. In 2014, the network of community college programs delivered 67 customized training courses in addition to its regular 114 degree and short courses. BioNetwork's custom and incumbent worker training programs develop the skills that employees most critically need. The National Center for the Biotech Workforce at Forsyth Technical Community College is affiliated with BioNetwork.
• Biomanufacturing Training Institute and Technology Enterprise at North Carolina Central University. BRITE offers biotech-specific undergraduate and advanced degree programs. BRITE students and faculty also do some work in the area of lead optimization.
• Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University. BTEC's students get hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. The program offers a biotechnology minor, completes analytical services projects for companies, and even trains FDA inspectors.

This training partnership was created in 2002, when industry and academic leaders began discussing how to address workforce training needs. Funding for this effort came from the Golden LEAF Foundation, created with the state's tobacco settlement, and industry. Ongoing funding for these training programs is provided by the North Carolina General Assembly.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biomanufacturing-its-working-in-north-carolina-300099767.html

SOURCE North Carolina Biotechnology Center