Site selection is one of the key decisions project owners must make when they have an idea for a life science capital project. Each year, Boston and San Francisco top the list of top life sciences clusters in the United States. However, home of the fourth-largest biotech hub and the ninth-largest biopharma cluster in the country, North Carolina is a hidden gem in the life sciences sector. The state offers a host of benefits and incentives for companies looking for a place to begin or expand their footprint.

Site selection depends on several factors, and an experienced program manager can help you weigh the pros and cons of various locations. Important questions to consider include:

➜ Is access to highly trained talent a major factor in your plan?
➜ Are you looking for proximity to other major players like Pfizer, Novartis, Seqirus, or AstraZeneca?
➜ How does funding (or lack thereof) stand to impact your plans for expansion?
➜ How will you weigh speed-to-market and budget with the ability to lease your site to other types of life sciences organizations if plans go awry?
➜ Would you like to expand your footprint to the East Coast?
➜ Is a lower-than-average cost of land/living important to your site selection?

View more insights from 35 North life sciences experts about what to think about at the concept stage of a new project by reading An Owner’s Guide to Building Life Sciences Facilities.