Research Triangle Regional Partnership
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| Research Triangle Regional Partnership | |
|---|---|
| Name | Research Triangle Regional Partnership |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Type | Regional economic development organization |
| Headquarters | Research Triangle, North Carolina |
| Region served | Durham County, Wake County, Orange County, Johnston County, Chatham County, Wake Forest |
| Leader title | President & CEO |
Research Triangle Regional Partnership is a regional economic development organization serving the Research Triangle area of North Carolina. It coordinates investment attraction, site selection, and workforce alignment among municipalities, counties, and educational institutions across Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, and Chatham counties. The Partnership engages with multinational corporations, research universities, and philanthropic foundations to promote cluster growth in biotechnology, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy.
History
Founded in the late 20th century amid efforts by civic leaders from Raleigh, North Carolina, Durham, North Carolina, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina to capitalize on the proximity of Duke University, North Carolina State University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the organization built on earlier alliances such as the Research Triangle Park consortium and regional chambers like the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Durham Chamber of Commerce. Early partnerships drew on economic models from regions like Silicon Valley, Research Triangle Park-based spinouts, and initiatives connected to National Science Foundation-funded research centers. Over successive administrations the Partnership adapted to global shifts exemplified by projects involving Biogen Idec, IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, and international trade missions to Germany, Japan, and India.
Mission and Governance
The Partnership’s stated mission aligns with strategies employed by entities such as Economic Development Administration-backed regional strategies and metropolitan planning organizations like Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). Its board composition mirrors governance practices found in nonprofit alliances such as the Brookings Institution-affiliated metropolitan programs, with representation from county commissions, city councils including Raleigh City Council, university technology transfer offices like UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, and corporate leaders from firms like Cisco Systems, Caterpillar Inc., and SAS Institute. Executive oversight has involved collaboration with state-level agencies including North Carolina Department of Commerce and workforce development partners modeled after Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act consortia.
Economic Development Activities
The Partnership conducts targeted business recruitment similar to campaigns by Invest Atlanta and Greater Phoenix Economic Council, using tools such as foreign direct investment missions to Brazil, China, and United Kingdom delegations, coordinated site certification akin to Site Selection Magazine-listed programs, and incentives navigation referencing statutes like the Job Development Investment Grant (North Carolina). Sector-specific initiatives have paralleled cluster strategies used by Biotechnology Industry Organization and Information Technology Industry Council, aligning talent pipelines with programs at Wake Technical Community College, Durham Technical Community College, and research institutes such as NC Biotechnology Center.
Membership and Partners
Members include county economic development offices such as Wake County Economic Development, Durham County Public Health-adjacent commerce units, municipal economic development offices from Cary, North Carolina and Morrisville, North Carolina, higher education partners like Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and William Peace University, and private-sector partners ranging from startups in American Underground to multinationals like Biogen Idec and Siemens. Philanthropic partners have included The Duke Endowment, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and corporate foundations associated with Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Regional transportation and planning partners include Triangle Transit, NCDOT, and Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Major Projects and Initiatives
Notable initiatives have included coordinated business attraction campaigns that resulted in expansions by Cree, Inc., Lenovo, and MetLife; talent development programs linked to apprenticeships with IBM and cohort models inspired by MassChallenge accelerators; and real estate and infrastructure projects in cooperation with Research Triangle Park management, The Pearl Companies, and municipal redevelopment efforts in Downtown Raleigh and Downtown Durham. Cross-border trade missions have leveraged relationships with consulates such as the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta and trade offices tied to SelectUSA. Place-based economic resilience programs have drawn on frameworks from Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond research and pilot projects similar to Promise Neighborhoods style community investments.
Impact and Metrics
The Partnership measures outcomes using metrics comparable to regional studies by Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program and American Communities Project, tracking job creation numbers reported by county economic development offices, capital investment announced via Site Selection Magazine listings, and earning differentials captured in reports from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regional tables. Impact assessments cite corporate relocations, expansion announcements, and partnership-supported workforce certifications with outcomes benchmarked against peer regions like Charlotte metropolitan area and Research Triangle Park-adjacent counties. Longitudinal studies reference indicators used by Economic Development Quarterly and evaluations by university-affiliated centers such as the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.