Once known for a traditional economy built on tobacco, furniture and textiles, North Carolina has evolved to a global economy driven by knowledge-based industries. Biotechnology, energy, finance and information technology are just a few of the many business sectors that are rapidly growing and succeeding here, and a range of leading companies call our state home to their corporate headquarters. This week, we highlight the Aeorospace/Defense, Automotive, and Biotech/Pharmaceutical industries:Aerospace and DefenseWith a legacy in flight that began with the Wright brothers, our aerospace industry is led by companies such as Honda Jet and GE Aviation. Corporations here, including Lockheed Martin and UTC Aerospace Systems are also leaders in defense and security.Automotive, Truck and Heavy MachineryNorth Carolina has the 10th-largest automotive sector employment in the U.S. with companies such as Daimler Trucks, Freightliner, Caterpillar and Bridgestone taking advantage of our highly skilled workforce.Biotechnology and PharmaceuticalsMajor biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Novo Nordisk, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline, are attracted to North Carolina where they find the largest research park in the country and three Tier 1 research universities.Source: Economic Development Partnership of N.C.
