Local companies are capitalizing on the approaching shift in global demographics. U.S. healthcare share of GDP is expected to reach 20% by 2016. Nutritional research, medical testing services and medical device manufacturing represent strong growth areas with a high rate of success in and around the Charlotte region. The area is home to Carolinas Healthcare System, the 3rd largest public healthcare system in the United States, and other medical centers actively engaged in national clinical trials such as Blumenthal, Presbyterian and Batte Cancer Centers. The region's large patient base provides leverage for important clinical research.
Charlotte USA has experienced several recent expansions and the location of new facilities such as those announced by Austrian-based Greiner Bio-One, Czech Republican-based Linet, agricultural technology firm Monsanto Co., and German-based Groninger USA LLC.
The machine manufacturing industry has also created a niche in medical device and equipment manufacturing an. The creation of this niche, which requires a highly skilled and trained workforce, speaks highly to the capabilities of the Charlotte region’s diverse and adaptable workforce. A cluster of companies specializing in this field are located within the Charlotte USA region, exporting their products to domestic and international destinations.
There are more than 200 companies that produce medical devices and equipment in the Charlotte region that employ a small group of 7,600 talented people. Some of the larger manufacturers are Hartmann-Conco Inc., Scott Health and Safety, and Zimmer Orthopedic Surgical.
Building on the strength and volume of surrounding firms in the medical support field, as well as an educated workforce, small yet solid pharmaceutical manufacturing initiatives have grown to incorporate an increasingly larger role in the local economy. As a result, approximately 40 companies are located in the Charlotte USA region.
The North Carolina Research Campus, a 350-acre, $1.5 billion 'biopolis' - the only one of its kind - is located in Kannpolis, N.C. The NCRC is home to leading research universities focusing on collaboration and advancements in the fields of biotechnology, nutrition and health. This private-public venture is David Murdoch's vision, the owner of Dole Foods Company and a longtime champion of health and wellness.
