This content first appeared in Economy & Business 2026. Click here to view the full publication.

By Scott Levitan, Research Triangle Foundation of NC

Research Triangle Park (RTP) is entering an era marked by its global research leadership and the thoughtful
modernization of spaces that support the needs of today’s workforce and tomorrow’s pioneers. In 2025,
several of RTP’s anchor companies celebrated major milestones: IBM marked 60 years in the Park, Biogen
commemorated 30 years with a $2B investment commitment, and Lenovo celebrated 20 years of growth
from its North American headquarters in RTP. This momentum continued with Novartis Gene Therapies
announcing a $771 million expansion that will bring 700 new jobs in biologics and small molecule manufacturing. Global companies continue to signal strong confidence in RTP’s future and the region’s world-class talent base.

Nearly 400 companies and 55,000 employees contribute to RTP’s annual economic impact of $25.1 billion. It is the core of North Carolina’s innovation economy. As steward of the Park, the Research Triangle Foundation
of North Carolina continues to guide this evolution by strengthening research, deepening regional partnerships and creating the conditions for long-term discovery that benefits all of North Carolina.

RTP 3.0, a transformative, 50-year strategic vision, is designed to guide the Park’s next half-century of
growth. RTP companies, Wake, and Durham counties overwhelmingly approved key land use amendments
and zoning updates that now enable sustainable, mixeduse development across the Park’s 7,000 acres. RTP 3.0 maintains what makes the Park unique while providing a clear and flexible framework for the future. In 2026, Foundation staff will implement the next steps which include enhanced development standards and revised design guidelines.

RTP 3.0 is the result of extensive stakeholder engagement and support. The Foundation Board and staff are grateful to all who helped contribute to and lead this regional effort.
There is also movement on two major development initiatives in RTP. The Triangle Mobility Hub, supported by a $25 million federal RAISE grant through GoTriangle and slated for a late-2027 groundbreaking, will serve as the Park’s first major transit-oriented development, improving multimodal access for employees, residents and visitors across the region.

Similarly, the continued evolution of Hub RTP demonstrates how mixed-use development can bring new energy to a historically suburban research environment. Phase one has welcomed residents, employers and retailers to a walkable, urban district anchored by the Horseshoe at Hub RTP— recognized as “Best New Development” by Triangle CREW and praised by The News & Observer as a “foodie wonderland.” Residents are living within RTP for the first time, thanks to the completion of MAA Nixie’s first 406-unit apartment project, which places homes minutes from workplaces, trails, dining
and entertainment within Hub RTP.

As the nation’s largest research park, RTP remains a cornerstone of North Carolina’s innovation economy. As the Park continues to evolve, the Foundation and its partners are positioning the Park—and the Research Triangle region—to thrive for generations to come.

“RTP 3.0 unlocks possibilities we’ve never had before—new places to live, stronger partnerships and a community built to accelerate innovation. We are grateful for the Triangle’s spirit of collaboration and for the many partners who helped shape this vision for RTP’s future.”

– Scott Levitan, President & CEO, Research Triangle Foundation of NC