North Carolina’s Innovation Advantage: IP, Research, and Economic Impact

North Carolina’s life sciences industry is a hub of innovation that drives economic growth and advances health care.

Its research and biotech sectors employ more than 226,000 people and contribute more than $80 billion to the state’s economy. Through thousands of clinical trials involving millions of participants, the state plays a central role in finding discoveries that improve patient care nationwide.

That’s where strong intellectual property (IP) protections come in. They give scientists and companies the confidence to pursue bold and high-risk ideas, turning groundbreaking research into life-changing treatments.

We Work For Health and the Council for Innovation Promotion organized a panel discussion in August event to highlight how IP drives innovation, boosts North Carolina’s economy and improves patient care.

“Intellectual property is what our fantastic researchers are trying to get for their inventions,” said Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) during a summer roundtable. “It’s a validation, it’s an exclusive right to be able to turn that idea into a product that can save people’s lives.”

Panelists highlighted how patient voices and rare disease communities guide research and stressed the urgent need to keep the U.S. at the forefront of global innovation. Hear their stories below.

Jason Adair, Chief Business Officer at Liquidia, pointed out that universities generate robust patents, which stakeholders can license to develop products that drive economic growth and create greater value for the state.

Carey Rongitsch, Director, Raleigh/Durham Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC), explained that strong IP protections encourage more companies to invest and build in the U.S. This investment drives growth in apprenticeships, strengthens the trades and enables the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) labor to offer solid, good-paying jobs.

Laura Schoppe, President & Owner of Fuentek, LLC, noted that patent protection is essential to encouraging innovation. Without it, others could copy unprotected discoveries and profit from costly research they didn’t fund. She emphasized that without such protections, organizations have little incentive to invest in bringing new ideas to market, ultimately limiting society’s access to valuable advancements and new capabilities.

North Carolina’s life sciences community demonstrates that protecting innovation benefits everyone – from patients and researchers to workers and families statewide. Strong IP protections fuel the breakthroughs, partnerships and jobs that keep the state at the forefront of global discovery.

Watch the full roundtable discussion to learn more about how North Carolina is shaping the next generation of life-changing innovation.