PRx Blog

North Carolina Visits Schwartz MSL Boston

With BIO in full swing and thousands of companies and organizations descending upon Boston for the annual global event for biotechnology, Schwartz MSL was fortunate enough to steal away North Carolina Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco and Doug Drabble, Director of BioNetwork and Life Sciences Initiatives at BioNetwork North Carolina, for a lively and informative thought leadership salon. The topic: North Carolina’s successful training program that engages community colleges as a key workforce development source for the life sciences industries. Students attending the state’s 58 community colleges have access to the state’s BioNetwork which trains students at all levels in life sciences for potential educational and career paths in science, technology, engineering and math-related industries. The seven centers and one 40-foot long mobile educational lab center are staffed with highly skilled industry-trained experts who are constantly developing new workforce training programs that can be delivered anywhere in the state of North Carolina. As a result, students have access to career-focused training programs and high-quality educational opportunities, making it easier for them to find jobs.

Interestingly, often times it’s industry that dictates the training curriculum. For instance, the threat of a flu pandemic and the ability of the Tar Heel State to train students in the field brought Novartis to the state to build a flu vaccine facility. In addition, our client West Pharmaceuticals works with the BioNetwork to secure trained employees.

Many states including the Commonwealth are looking to North Carolina’s community college system as a model for workforce development. It will be interesting to see what happens in Massachusetts, given the plethora of life science companies, and our 15 community colleges. Check here for updates!