To foster the continued success of the biomanufacturing industry, North Carolina State
University has joined forces with a
French university to provide biomanufacturing training, education, and process
services in the United States
and Europe.
The new organization, BTEC International, is the result of a partnership
between NC State’s Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center
(BTEC) and Strasbourg
University’s European
Aseptic and Sterile Environment Training Center (EASE), developed with Alsace
Biovalley.
Biomanufacturing typically refers to the production of biopharmaceuticals—medical
drugs produced through biotechnology. Examples include vaccines, monoclonal
antibodies, and proteins for medicinal use. The overall impact of the
biopharmaceutical industry on the U.S. economy exceeds $917 billion
annually. This translates into 674,000 direct jobs and 3.4 million indirect and
induced jobs.
Plans call for the enterprise to become a knowledge hub of regulatory
affairs expertise pertaining to both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and
the European Medicines Agency.
BTEC International will develop and provide hands-on biomanufacturing
training and regulatory-affairs courses at the Golden LEAF BTEC facility in Raleigh, N.C., and at the
EASE headquarters in Strasbourg,
France. The
initiative will also work with researchers, corporations, governments, and
international organizations to create innovative technologies to advance the
biomanufacturing industry.
“We are delighted to launch this initiative with EASE. By joining forces and
integrating new member centers, the BTEC International network will bring a
critical value to companies in participating regions,” says Ruben Carbonell, PhD,
director of BTEC.
“This network will bring together the highest performing training centers in
bioproduction throughout the world, starting with BTEC North Carolina and
Strasbourg University’s EASE, which is strategically positioned at the
crossroads of Europe, in the heart of the Biovalley,” said Jean Marc Jeltsch,
vice president for industry partnerships at Strasbourg University and head of
EASE Strategic Committee. “Working in close partnership with industry and
academic centers, BTEC International will foster the development of
bioindustries by building gold standards for hands-on training of the
workforce.”
In the future, BTEC International plans to expand its membership and become
a collaborative network of training centers. The goal, Carbonell says, is to
bring biomanufacturing companies into closer, mutually supportive
relationships. BTEC International members will work together to develop
partnerships, increase the international content of curricula, and organize
short courses and seminars.
“The end result is improved employability and enhanced skills,” Carbonell
said.
Source: North Carolina State University
