A new report highlights North Carolina as one of the top states in the nation for driving innovation and economic growth in the biopharmaceutical industry, amid an increasingly competitive global environment.

The report, recently released by national drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), points to attributes for the state: the N.C. Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech) and the state’s model for education and training to help close the skills gap.

Among the leading states, North Carolina was highlighted for its biopharmaceutical efforts along with Arizona, Texas, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

NCBiotech, a state chartered nonprofit, should serve as a model for other states in the nation in its ability to successfully attract and retain a wide range of biopharmaceutical companies, as well as its expansive network of higher education programs in biotech and biomanufacturing, university-driven labs and manufacturing facilities, contract services and workforce training, according to PhRMA.

NCBiotech has an office in Wilmington to cover the southeastern region of the state.

“North Carolina’s $86 billion life science economy is excelling at a time when the U.S. is looking to maintain its global leadership in biopharmaceutical research and development,” said Doug Edgeton, NCBiotech president and CEO. “These reports confirm that our regional assets uniquely support our statewide efforts to build, partner, invest and communicate. It has been, and will continue to be, transformative.”

Southeastern North Carolina has been a hub for significant contributions to the state’s advancement in the biotech and biopharmaceutical industries, said Randall Johnson, executive director of the NCBiotech’s Southeastern Office.

The biotech community in the region has a diverse range of industries. The Wilmington area is also tied to the state’s network of resources in the biopharmaceutical industry, with North Carolina being the No. 3 state in the nation based on the number of biotech companies, Johnson said.

“There are a number of things we have done, from investing in research, investing in programs and initiatives and educational opportunities that lead to support for the biopharmaceutical industry,” Johnson said. “We’ve also heavily supported the clinical research industry cluster here in the region that feeds directly into and is an important part of the biopharmaceutical industry in the state."