In the past five years alone, the sector has added thousands of jobs and nearly $10 billion in investment.
"There is a lot of potential that we can grow here," Coriolis Pharma CEO Silvia Steyrer-Gruber said.
The German company opened a new headquarters and lab in Research Triangle Park. The facility will let the company work directly with North American clients to develop and analyze biotech medicines.
Experts said a strong talent pipeline is a big reason why the area is attracting companies.
"All of that kind of mix really helps create an atmosphere that's very competitive and attractive for these types of companies," NCBiotech's Christian Brown said.
Community colleges, including Durham Tech, are helping fuel the industry's growth. The school is now building a new health sciences facility to keep up with demand.
"It's life-changing," Durham Tech's Jerry Jones said. "To have RTP right outside our door and be able to direct our students to potential jobs, careers ... that adds to their resume along with their academic pursuit."
The $10 million facility is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2026 and create 50 new jobs.
"There is a super community here," Steyrer-Gruber said. "We need that for our talent. But we also want to give back with our scientific research that we do."
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