Durham Tech’s New Life Sciences Training Center
Novo Nordisk is donating $6 million to Durham Technical Community College to support the College’s life sciences programming and its new 35,000-square-foot Life Sciences Training Center.
This investment will support Durham Tech’s efforts to build a skilled and diverse talent pipeline prepared to enter the life sciences sector. With the support of Durham County residents during the 2022 bond referendum, the College will construct a state-of-the-art training center. Novo Nordisk’s investment will help defray the cost to equip the new facility and expand the College’s offerings in both short-term workforce credentials and degree program pathways.
The new Life Sciences Training Center is expected to be constructed by 2026, with a groundbreaking planned for spring 2023.
Our Commitment
The life sciences industry across the Triangle region is booming, and subsequent talent needs continue to increase. According to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Research Triangle Park is home to more than 600 life sciences companies and is the fourth largest life sciences hub in the United States. The industry employs more than 24,000 people in the region and is rapidly growing – exceeding the national average at 13 percent per year since 2018.
As Durham Tech continues to create additional opportunities to prepare local residents for the life sciences industry, investments are needed to update equipment, develop curriculum, recruit and support faculty, offer professional development opportunities, and provide student services and scholarships to ensure a skilled, diverse talent pipeline for the region.
Key Project Details
Novo Nordisk’s investment in Durham Tech will support the following:
- Establishment of a Biotechnology Associate of Applied Science degree program (for current college students).
- Purchase of biotechnology training equipment.
- Creation of onsite training for biotechnology career transition programs to upskill/reskill existing employees and other related workforce training partnerships.
- Outreach, awareness and course-taking for area high school students through the Career and College Promise Program.
- Development of a diverse talent pipeline to assist residents of various backgrounds enter the rapidly expanding life sciences industry.
As part of the ongoing partnership with Durham Tech, Novo Nordisk will provide funding to support a part-time employee serving in the professor-in-residence program; offer apprenticeships, internships and scholarship programs; provide outreach to middle and high school students; and purchase the necessary biotech training equipment for the Center.