By Keith Nichols, News Services
Education and economic development were the focus Tuesday morning as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and North Carolina Governor Mike Easley toured North Carolina State University. Clinton stopped first at NC State’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), then moved to McKimmon Center for a campaign rally.
At BTEC, Clinton and Easley, accompanied by First Lady Mary Easley, who is an NC State faculty member, and Chancellor James Oblinger, heard from faculty and students about the work of the center.
Designed to provide statewide education, economic development and job creation for the biomanufacturing, pharmaceutical and related agribiotechnology industries, the Golden LEAF BTEC is the only center of its kind in the nation. It provides an important tool for supporting a growing biotechnology industry, creating job opportunities and helping to ensure North Carolina remains a leader in biotechnology.
BTEC simulates a biomanufacturing pilot plant facility capable of producing biopharmaceutical products and packaging them in a sterile environment. It includes training and education classrooms, laboratories, building and process utilities. The facility is outfitted so that students gain hands-on experience using the same large-scale equipment they will use on the job. Through partnerships between NC State, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the North Carolina Community College System, BTEC's distance education and on-site programs will train as many as 2,000 students and prospective employees per year.
The center will also help attract new biotech companies to North Carolina, assist the development of new technologies for production of value-added biopharmaceuticals, protein-based products and chemicals from organisms, plants, cell cultures and other bio-based systems; and enhance the creation of rural biomanufacturing jobs and new agribusiness opportunities.
NC State University News Services (919) 515-3470 or newstips@ncsu.edu