Charlotte’s Fast Growing Life Sciences Sector Takes Center Stage

Published on September 12, 2025

A woman works in a lab wearing a white coat.

Charlotte’s fast-growing life sciences sector is set to shine next week with a lineup of events to celebrate the city’s growing leadership in biomedical research, clinical innovation, workforce development and surgical advancement. 

In recognition, Mayor Vi Lyles has proclaimed Sept. 15–19 as Charlotte Life Sciences Week, aligning with North Carolina Life Sciences Week, an initiative that showcases the depth and diversity of life sciences innovation across the state. 

Highlights of the week in Charlotte include:

  • Monday, Sept. 15: Biomedical Sciences Symposium
    • This UNC Charlotte symposium will spotlight leading-edge academic research and innovation in biomedical engineering.
  • Thursday, Sept. 18: Accelerating Life Sciences: NCBiotech Summit
    • North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s sold-out statewide summit focuses on life sciences, economic development, innovation and talent. Participants include academic, industry and government leaders from across the state working to accelerate innovation and develop solutions for some of the world’s greatest challenges. This is the inaugural event for the Pearl Innovation District.  
  • Friday, Sept. 19: Grand Opening of IRCAD North America
    • The week concludes with the grand opening of IRCAD, the new North American headquarters of the globally recognized surgical education, innovation and research institute. IRCAD, based at the Pearl, is the first-of-its-kind education and training destination.

“Charlotte is rapidly emerging as a growing powerhouse for life sciences,” said Mayor Lyles. “By aligning our local efforts, we hope to raise awareness for the groundbreaking research, world-class education, and meaningful careers that are shaping the future of our city and state.” 

Lyles’ proclamation encourages residents, professionals, educators and students to explore the opportunities in this growing field.

Charlotte businesses are joining the celebration. To kick off the week, businesses in Uptown have been asked to show their support Monday evening by lighting the skyline in blue. 

Growing Life Sciences

The week unfolds amidst the backdrop of two milestones that were decades in the making for the Queen City. 

Earlier this year, UNC Charlotte, which has grown its research portfolio considerably over the past decade, earned Carnegie R1 status, joining the nation’s elite research universities. 

In June, the Pearl Innovation District, a transformative $1.5 billion mixed-use development, launched. The Pearl is a 26-acre campus developed through a public-private partnership among the city, Mecklenburg County, Atrium Health, Wexford Science & Technology, and Ventas. It is also home to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte, the region’s first four-year medical school. Built in historic Brooklyn, The Pearl is projected to create more than 5,500 onsite jobs and over 11,500 jobs across the Charlotte area over the next 15 years.

Both milestones are set to redefine the region’s research and healthcare landscape. 

More than 175,000 people are employed in the Charlotte area in health and life sciences. Leading employers include Eli Lilly and Charlotte-based Advocate Health, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system. The Charlotte area is home to 69 bioscience companies and 354 support or related companies.

Learn more about The Pearl and the new era in life sciences it has ushered in.

Tagged as:
Back to top