NCBiotech makes Fast Company's 2025 Most Innovative Companies list
Fast Company’s 2025 list of the 10 Most Innovative Companies in Economic Development includes NCBiotech For making sure the benefits of the biotech boom ripple across more of the workforce.
By Chris Capot | This article originally appeared on NCBiotech's blog
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025.
The annual list shines a spotlight on businesses that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations to set new standards and achieve remarkable milestones in all sectors of the economy, according to the magazine.
Alongside the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company recognizes 609 organizations across 58 sectors and regions. NCBiotech was among the 10 companies in the Economic Development company category.
"We are honored to be recognized by Fast Company and be among other economic development organizations from around the world that are listed," said Doug Edgeton, president and CEO of NCBiotech. "We are especially grateful that our Accelerate NC Life Sciences Manufacturing coalition was highlighted in the award narrative."
In 2023, NCBiotech and a set of partners received a $25 million award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Regional Challenge. NCBiotech leads a broad-based coalition that includes multiple community colleges, HBCUs and an HAIU (Historically American Indian University), community organizations, and local life sciences manufacturers. NCBiotech and the coalition partners since then have worked together to expand and strengthen North Carolina’s life sciences manufacturing workforce so it will continue to thrive.
In one of the funded programs, NCBiotech deployed Ambassadors on an outreach campaign to increase awareness of and access to training and career opportunities in biomanufacturing across the state, especially in rural areas. By increasing awareness and boosting availability of life sciences manufacturing training across 79 of N.C.’s 100 counties, the coalition has seen a dramatic uptick in those enrolling in training provided by community colleges and the HBCU/HAIU network.
Solving the awareness barrier is crucial as more and more companies choose to grow in North Carolina, which had a record year in 2024, with 25 companies announcing expansions or new facilities totaling $10.8 billion for projects expected to create more than 4,500 jobs across 16 communities statewide.
Fast Company's World’s Most Innovative Companies stands as the magazine's hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year, according to the magazine's press release.
To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world.
“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies offers both a comprehensive look at innovation today and a playbook for the future,” said Fast Company editor-in-chief Brendan Vaughan. “This year, we recognize companies that are harnessing AI in deep and meaningful ways, brands that are turning customers into superfans by overdelivering for them, and challengers that are introducing bold ideas and vital competition to their industries. At a time when the world is rapidly shifting, these companies are charting the way forward.”
The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 25.
