A new report offering North Carolina-based technology coalitions a playbook of best practices for success was published today by the N.C. Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation. The N.C. Coalitions Strategic Support and Resource Guide, drawing from the experiences of successful coalitions in the state, provides guidance for optimizing organizational structures, funding strategies, and approaches for attracting both federal and private investment to drive economic growth. N.C. Commerce’s Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation (OSTI) supported the publication of the Guide.
Technology coalitions (also referred to as Hubs, Industry Alliances, Partnerships, or Clusters) are increasingly necessary for leveraging the collective resources, expertise, and influence of their industry, academic and not-for-profit members to achieve objectives that are difficult to accomplish alone. Capital is more likely to flow to mature coalitions that are well-positioned to create an economic impact and drive innovation within their region.
“The outstanding universities and technology companies across North Carolina make us a national leader in innovation and technology,” said N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Helping these organizations form technology-driven coalitions is critical to positioning NC for more partnerships and solidifying our status as a global competitor in emerging technology sectors.”
Within the past two years, federal investments, like funding from the CHIPS & Science Act, have catalyzed significant advancements across N.C. For example, a textile technology coalition, led by the Morganton-based Industrial Commons was selected by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) as a Regional Innovation Engine (NC Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine). The award will inject up to $160M over 10 years into strategic investments focused on cost-saving technologies and workforce development for textile companies in North Carolina.
The same NSF program also awarded the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine a Regional Innovation Engine entitled Piedmont Triad Regenerative Medicine Engine, which will make the Triad the national economic growth leader in cutting edge products in biomaterials and tissue engineering.
These two examples were awarded, in part, due to the strong industry relationships built through public-private partnerships that unite industry, academia, and local government around a shared mission. Such alignment and efficient use of shared resources also attracts private venture investment.
The N.C. Coalition Support and Resource Guide leverages insights from these partnerships, and other successful coalition models across the state, to offer coalitions recommendations for achieving both short- and long-term growth, and securing the support needed to strengthen their regional industries. The guide details state-supported resources for coalitions, including those offered by the Office of Science, Technology, and Innovation (OSTI), and outlines how coalitions can collaborate with OSTI to evaluate their needs and access tailored support. It also offers recommendations for future program opportunities that can strengthen these efforts, such as state-level cost matching, which is often crucial for securing federal funding.
Funding for the N.C. Coalition Support and Resource Guide was provided by the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management’s State Technical Assistance and Match Program (STAMP). This initiative allows state agencies to apply for funding to support technical assistance and state matching funds for opportunities like the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act.
"OSBM is excited to enhance OSTI's capacity and expertise in building this coalition guide,” said OSBM Federal Funds Analyst Jonathan Meyer. “This resource will activate transformative investment under the CHIPS and Science Act and future funding opportunities."
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