Wake Technical Community College: Building Tomorrow’s Talent

Wake Technical Community College plays a critical role in cultivating the life sciences workforce within the Research Triangle, one of the nation’s top five biotechnology hubs. Through industry-led curriculums and partnerships in the region, Wake Tech offers degrees, short-term courses, and customized training designed to meet regional biotech industry needs for individuals starting a new career or companies seeking workforce development. 

• RTP Bio Collaboration 
  Wake Tech has partnered with Durham Technical Community College to launch RTP Bio, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen the biotechnology workforce. This program offers students flexible transfer opportunities, allowing them to start their studies at either institution and transfer between them to earn associate degrees in fields such as Biotechnology, Clinical Trials Research Associate, and Biomedical Equipment Technology. Additionally, RTP Bio provides customized, short-term training and apprenticeship programs tailored to meet the evolving needs of life sciences employers. The initiative also supports high school pathways, enabling students through programs like the FUJIFILM Biotechnologies Early College Suite to earn both a high school diploma and an Associate in Applied Science degree in biotechnology and information technology. 

• Lilly Science and Technology Center 
  Opened in 2021, the Lilly Science and Technology Center at Wake Tech’s RTP campus is a cutting-edge facility that includes 23 smart classrooms and specialized labs such as microbiology and biochemistry. It features the Lighthouse Aseptic Suite and Amgen Co-Laboratory, offering hands-on training in a current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) environment. The center also hosts the Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnology, a dual-enrollment program for high school students. This facility reflects Wake Tech’s commitment to aligning education with industry needs to prepare students for successful careers in the life sciences. 

• RT2 Building and Workforce Investment 
  Further supporting its mission, Wake Tech recently unveiled the RT2 building at the RTP campus - a $44 million, 63,600-square-foot facility tailored to meet the needs of the growing biotechnology, IT, and life sciences sectors in Wake County. The RT2 building offers a wide array of educational opportunities including university transfer programs, direct-to-career degrees, workforce training, and dual enrollment for high school students. The building features advanced classrooms, an apprenticeship center, a Co-Lab designed for industry collaboration, and specialized labs. This facility embodies Wake Tech’s strategic approach to workforce development. The Wake Tech Foundation actively engages corporate and community partners to invest in this critical infrastructure through naming opportunities, with gifts starting at $10,000. These contributions play a key role in sustaining educational programs that ensure a skilled local workforce aligned with regional industry demands. 

• Workforce Development and Career Opportunities 
  Wake Tech’s initiatives are strengthened by regional programs like Accelerate NC – Life Sciences Manufacturing, which focuses on expanding training and career opportunities in underserved communities. Additionally, the college hosts events such as the RTP Bio Career Fair, providing valuable connections between students and potential employers in the biotechnology industry. 

• Training the Local Workforce: Amgen 
  Wake Technical Community College launched a unique apprenticeship program in partnership with Amgen in 2025 to prepare a skilled workforce for the company’s planned $1 billion expansion in Holly Springs. The first cohort of 12 apprentices, all certified bioprocess technicians, underwent six months of training at Wake Tech’s Southern Wake Campus. The program included coursework in bioprocess practices, current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), quality systems, and industry reporting. Participants earned certificates in BioQuality and BioManufacturing, accumulating approximately one year of college credit toward an associate degree. This initiative emphasized Wake Tech’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for skilled professionals in the biopharmaceutical sector.