BTEC will play prominent role in new manufacturing center
The Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) is part of a new initiative aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in the biopharmaceutical sector.
The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is supported with a five-year, $70 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce and at least $129 million from a consortium of 150 companies, educational institutions, research centers, coordinating bodies, non-profits and Manufacturing Extension Partnerships across the country.
NIIMBL is the 11th institute in the overall Manufacturing USA initiative, and NC State is involved with four of them.
In addition to advancing U.S. leadership in the biopharmaceutical field, NIIMBL is also tasked with fostering economic development, improving medical treatments and ensuring a qualified workforce by collaborating with educational institutions to develop new training programs matched to specific biopharma skill needs.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for BTEC, NC State and the state of North Carolina,” says Dr. Ruben Carbonell, who will serve as the chief technology officer for NIIMBL and is the director of BTEC. “BTEC will play a key role in workforce development, including academic and industry training programs, as well as process and analytical services and research,” adds Carbonell, who is also the Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering.
NIIMBL will be coordinated by the University of Delaware, in conjunction with Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The consortium is also establishing a new nonprofit organization called USA Bio LLC to administer the cooperative agreement with NIST.
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