CommunityLink

Durham, NC

Technology

Its status as the City of Industry, Medicine, Research and Education is something Durham does not take lightly. The technology and biotech­nology sector is booming, and ­several large companies have discovered that Durham is the perfect place to operate because of the well-skilled workforce, low cost of living and close proximity to
leading universities.

Local Tech Companies

Companies from around the world have come to Durham to expand their business and join with the startup companies that have always called Durham home. A good mix of large and small businesses with a variety of research and manufacturing bases make the area a success. With several areas devoted to business scattered throughout the county and city and government leaders focused on making Durham a hub of technology and biotechnology, this is the perfect spot for locating or expanding your business.

International Business Machines: IBM has found Durham to be an ideal spot for manufacturing. IBM is the world’s largest information technology company as well as the world’s largest business and ­technology services provider and IT financier. IBM employs over 13,500 people in the region, manufacturing servers, personal systems and software. Always discovering new technology, IBM knows that there are skilled and educated employees in Durham ready to make the company an even greater success.
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave: An industry leader in the manufacture of innovative optical fiber and optical cable, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has been a part of the Durham community since 1983. The company is continually credited with firsts in its field, including introducing the first mass fusion splicing equipment in the United States, developing the first 432-fiber hostile-environment cable, and developing the optical Z-Fiber that exhibits the world’s lowest transmission loss. The company decided to locate its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park because of the education level of the potential employees, the favorable business climate and the great location.

Nortel: Nortel is a worldwide technology innovator that put down company roots in the United States before branching out into the rest of the world as the leading supplier of digital network solutions and services. The company employs over 3,000 people in the Research Triangle Park area.

Biotech Businesses

The biotechnology sector in the greater Durham area is also thriving. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center, a nonprofit corporation funded by the North Carolina General Assembly, works with biotechnology firms to provide long-term economic benefits. The center focuses on five goals:

• Assisting biotechnology business development
• Strengthening the biotechnology capabilities of the state’s universities
• Educating the public about biotechnology
• Encouraging collaborations among the state’s universities, industries and government
• Strengthening the state’s leadership in biotechnology

By meeting these goals, the center has made the greater Durham area a hot spot for biotechnology companies from around the world.

Council for Entrepreneurial Development

One of the reasons these and many other companies are succeeding in the Durham area is the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED). The CED was founded in 1984 to ­stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Durham area. It provides programs and services to businesses in education, capital formation, mentoring and communication. The largest entrepreneurial support organization in the United States, CED continues to energize the area by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, service professionals, academicians and researchers.

Each year the CED chooses companies to spotlight at its annual Venture program. Venture introduces potential investors to some of the hottest investment opportunities, making the meeting a win-win situation for both the businesses and investors. Businesses spotlighted at Venture have many different backgrounds, from health services to high-tech manufacturing.

The nonprofit CED is supported by membership dues, program revenues and contributions. Membership consists of over 4,000 individuals representing 1,100 businesses from a variety of places. Whether it’s a one-person startup business or a business employing 1,000, the CED has membership benefits available.