Why Carolina North?
Rapid changes in education, research, and engagement mean that the university must pursue new opportunities in new ways:
- Carolina North will provide an ideal setting for collaborative research that advances new knowledge and attracts the talented researchers and students who enrich the intellectual life of the university and the community.
- Carolina has embraced the imperative of connecting the university’s research programs to the economic well-being of the region and of the state. Carolina North will include facilities, shared resources, support services, a collaborative environment, and other assets essential for creating and nurturing new businesses and relationships with existing businesses focusing on commercializing UNC research discoveries.
- To accommodate expected increases in enrollment and research activity, UNC will develop clusters of closely related activities at Carolina North, making room on main campus for additional students, faculty members, and staff. For example, moving the Renaissance Computing Institute to Carolina North would attract research teams that benefit from high-performance computing, data visualization, and other strengths.
- UNC’s recently adopted curriculum places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, undergraduate research and entrepreneurship. Carolina North will help us offer a meaningful research experience to every student and will also provide a setting where students can pursue entrepreneurial endeavors that carry innovations into the marketplace.
- As federal funding for research levels off or declines, institutions are turning to the private sector to sustain their momentum. Unfortunately, UNC-Chapel Hill currently ranks 90th nationally among research universities in corporate-sponsored research as a percentage of total funding. By providing a setting for public-private partnerships that spur innovation, Carolina North will attract new funding, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs for North Carolina.
