The Research Triangle in North Carolina encompasses the cities of Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh, as well as surrounding towns like Cary, Morrisville, and Apex. Its name comes from the three major research universities which anchor each point of the triangle.
Because of these institutions – plus Research Triangle Park (RTP) – the Triangle has become a major hub for pharma, biotech, medical devices and clinical research companies.
Interests and investments have grown heavily in the area due to pending tariffs on imported drugs, which has caused global drugmakers to hurryingly boost U.S. manufacturing in an onshoring push.
As mentioned by PharmaVoice, Raleigh is at “the heart of the action” and is “poised to be part of the incoming boom in manufacturing investments”.
We’ve seen firsthand how the number of factories is on the rise in this city. Being here in person at our Raleigh base also means we’re walking the facilities, connecting directly with talent and meeting hiring managers face-to-face.
The Research Triangle was initially formed to encourage research, innovation, and economic development in the state of North Carolina and is generally considered one of the biggest intellectual and high-tech research powerhouses in the entirety of the United States.
As well as being home to well-established life sciences companies like Pfizer, Merck, Novo Nordisk and GSK, the Triangle contains three prestigious research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These institutes are all highly selective and boast standout students, which contributes to the excellent and abundant talent pool that exists there.
Since its creation in the 1950s, the Research Triangle has grown into a manufacturing epicenter, particularly within the life sciences fields. There are currently just under 100 pharma manufacturing sites in the region, with the number of related employees standing at roughly 34,000.
According to Fierce Pharma, “In 2024, 25 life science companies announced projects in NC. [...] Over that same 12-month stretch, more than 4,500 new life sciences and $10.8 billion in investment dollars were also committed in the state”.
As this influx of projects continues to flow, it’s clear that the pace of this region’s growth is far from slowing down.
While the entirety of the Research Triangle is experiencing a surge of interest, Raleigh has a particular appeal – the strength of its talent market.
Unlike other biotech hubs, such as Cambridge, New York and Los Angeles, Raleigh is home to some of the world’s top colleges and healthcare institutions – but isn’t loaded with a heavy cost of living.
The abundant space and available real estate are highly attractive to professionals who are beginning their careers, and lower corporate tax rates and affordable transport systems give them further reasons to stay.
In other words, the bright minds leaving university are likely to settle in the city and find local work in which there is a growing demand for.
Just last year, pharma giant Novo Nordisk announced plans to invest $4.1 billion into a manufacturing facility in Raleigh, promising to supply an extra 1,000 jobs on top of the 2,500 they’ve already created there.
For manufacturing professionals, there are a whole lot of job opportunities available in the current climate and as well as the foreseeable future.
With one of our five offices based in Raleigh, we can see and feel the changes taking place in the Research Triangle as the demand for onshore pharma and biotech manufacturing rises.
It also puts us in an excellent position to support life sciences companies who are in need of manufacturing professionals. As well as understanding the local talent pool itself, we have curated our own portfolio of trusted, pre-qualified candidates who are readily available.
“The Research Triangle remains the core, but the manufacturing appetite has expanded far beyond it; with major hubs now thriving in Holly Springs, Sanford, Wilson, and continuing to grow. That expansion is one of the key reasons we chose Raleigh as the home for our Manufacturing division. Being here in person allows us to meet hiring managers face-to-face, connect directly with candidates, and walk the facilities; ensuring we represent our partners accurately and effectively when engaging potential talent.”
– Leanne Delaney, Senior Division Manager | Manufacturing
With over fifteen years of industry expertise, Meet has a track record of placing exceptional manufacturing talent across pharma and biotech industries as well as CDMOs.
If you’re looking to hire in scale or are searching for your next opportunity, head over to our job search page to view available roles or feel free to contact us directly.
