Business & Economic Development

Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS)

The Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS) is a unique industry/university cooperative research center located at North Carolina State University. The center is established for the study of technological innovation and its management. Major corporations have joined with NC State and the National Science Foundation to support this national center of excellence. Its mission is to generate, synthesize and disseminate useful knowledge to manage technological innovation.

Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services (CUACS)

Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services established by the North Carolina Legislature in 1966, provides applied research, program evaluation, and technical assistance for public sector agencies and non-profit organizations in responding to identified needs.

EI - Entrepreneurship Initative

The Office of EEED's Catalyzing Entrepreneurship Statewide website has been replaced and redirected to EI - Entrepreneurship Initiative. It can also be found at http://www.ncsu.edu/ei/index.php

Global Training Initiative

The Global Training Initiative (GTI) is a program designed to enhance international partnerships between NC State, businesses in North Carolina, and people around the world.

Industrial Extension Service

IES is the recognized leader and change agent for the sustainability and advancement of North Carolina industry.  Through process improvement solutions such as lean and Six Sigma, outreach and partnership opportunities through Extension Student Workers On-Demand and the NC Conference for Excellence, compliance solutions like ISO/Quality Systems and Health & Safety audits and assessments, certificate and awards programs such as Project Management, Master Black Belt, NC Shingo Prize, Manager of Environmental, Safety and Health, North Carolina Awards for Excellence, Facilities Engineering and Energy Management diplomas, and business development opportunities via the Technology Incubator, IES stimulates financial impact for the companies it serves, impact that radiates from those organizations to their communities and ultimately to all of North Carolina.

Institute for Emerging Issues

The Institute for Emerging Issues is a catalyst for innovative public policy through research, ideas, debate and action that encourages civic leadership in business, government and higher education.

Natural Resource Economic Development Outreach Program – Forestry

An outreach specialist works with communities in North Carolina's rural/urban interface. Working primarily in the areas of green infrastructure and urban forestry the outreach specialist assists private and public interests to develop tree and other natural covers to enhance community values and create economic activity. The program provides solutions to the pressures of urbanization for limited resource citizens, local officials and businesses, NGOs, etc. through:

• Working Land Conservation Agreements
• Alternative Enterprises
• Green Space Strategies
• Management Options for Urban-Rural Interface by working with:
  • County Natural Resource Agencies
  • Economic Developers
  • Forestry and Natural Resource Associations (NCFA, AMUC)
  • Land Trusts and Conservation Organizations (CTNC)
  • NC A & T University
  • Agritourism Office
  • Allied Business Associations
  • NC Farm Bureau
  • NC Woodlands
  • American Farmland Trust
  • Others

Natural Resource Economic Development Outreach Program – Tourism

A tourism outreach specialist works with the rural tourism and recreation sector in North Central and North Western North Carolina to promote economic and community development through sustainable natural resource management and utilization. Regional Importance of Tourism:

• $14.2 billion spent on tourism in NC (+7.3% over 2004)
• Directly supports 185,000+ NC jobs
• Tourism contributes over $2.3B in tax revenue
• Generates $747M in state and $461M in local tax revenue
• NC is eighth in visitor volume in the U.S.
• Offers NC small businesses (farms, crafts, music, etc.) the opportunity to supplement revenue while diversifying
• Tourism allows NC regions and communities to showcase their natural, cultural, and recreational resources

Natural Resource Economic Development Outreach Program - Wood Products

An outreach specialist works with the small wood products manufacturing sector in Western North Carolina to promote economic development through sustainable natural resource management and utilization. Working with wood products, manufacturers can grow sales, profitability and employment.

• Many large furniture plants have closed since 2000, putting thousands out of work
• In many communities these employers paid the best wages and benefits in the area
• Associated employment also negatively affected
• New opportunities are becoming available to start and grow existing wood product businesses
• Manufacturers of a wide range furniture, wooden components, cabinets, moldings and doors are targets for this work

NC Japan Center

Work with state and local agencies, companies, and business organizations to promote increased exports to Japan (NC's No. 2 market) and direct foreign investment from Japan (3rd ranked source of DFI in NC); conduct annual "North Carolina & Japan: Trade and Investment Conference"

NC Sea Grant

North Carolina Sea Grant is involved with a variety of coastal business and economic development issues, particularly issues involving aquaculture, commercial and recreational fishing, and seafood processing. For someone curious about these industries, or the experienced entrepreneur with a question, Sea Grant's extension staff has accurate and practical answers.

North Carolina Space Initiative

The Mission of the North Carolina Space Initiative is to create, disseminate and apply knowledge in the utilization of space and space technology for the betterment of North Carolina, our nation, and the world.

The Goals of the North Carolina Space Initiative are:

• To bring together intellectual and economic resources in the pursuit of space technology and its applications for the benefit of the citizens of North Carolina, the United States and the global community.
• To make North Carolina a national leader in space research, education and commerce.

The Objectives of the North Carolina Space Initiative are:

• To facilitate collaborative research on the utilization of space and space technology.
• To foster partnerships among University, Government and Industry.
• To apply space technology to issues of concern in our state.
• To educate future leaders in science, engineering, business, policy and management.
• To transmit knowledge through teaching, public service and outreach.
• To increase North Carolina's competitiveness in attracting space-related business to the state.

NCSU Technology Incubator

Entrepreneurs with products as diverse as specialized mold cultures, telecommunications applications, and biotechnology breakthroughs call the Incubator, located on Centennial Campus, their temporary home as they work toward commercializing their products and processes.

Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

Technology Specialists provide businesses with one-on-one counseling to assist in the commercialization of innovative technologies. The SBTDC technology team also provides assistance to technology transfer offices at universities and other institutions for the purpose of supporting their development of spin-off companies. Specialists provide counseling in the areas of: technology transfer; research and development funding (SBIR/STTR); intellectual property issues; networking/resource identification; financing alternatives.

Boating Industry Services - SBTDC (As of October1, 2006 - formerly Marine Trade Services)
Through Small Business and Technology Development Center, Boating Industry Services (BIS) is a statewide, special market development service supporting business and employment growth for the state's marinas, boatyards, boat dealers, boat builders, marine construction firms and product/service providers. BIS provides a range of business services and one-on-one counseling including management and operations, marketing and sales, business expansion, personnel, and regulatory.

Business Counseling - SBTDC
The SBTDC is a business development service of the University of North Carolina and provides management counseling to established firms, high-growth companies and later-stage start-up businesses. Counselors work one-on-one with clients and provide assistance with: planning; financing; marketing; human resources; and operations.

Export Financing Services - SBTDC
The SBTDC's Export Financing Services (EFS) program provides service to those companie needing assistance with export financing, either pre-export (export working capital) or post-export financing (getting paid for a shipment and/or helping the overseas buyer find financing to purchase a product).

International Business - SBTDC
Helping businesses with export financing

Management Education Services - SBTDC
The SBTDC's Management Education Services (MES) provides educational products and services to North Carolina small and medium-sized businesses. Our programs and services focus on change management, strategic positioning, action planning and leadership development. Any program can be customized to fit the needs of the client

Export Financing Services - SBTDC
The SBTDC's Export Financing Services (EFS) program provides service to those companie needing assistance with export financing, either pre-export (export working capital) or post-export financing (getting paid for a shipment and/or helping the overseas buyer find financing to purchase a product).

Technology Commercialization - SBTDC
SBTDC technology counselors assist technology businesses through management counseling and SBIR outreach.

Textiles: Textiles Extension Education for Economic Development

The Professional Education Program consists of a series of seminars, conferences and executive dealing with all aspects of manufacturing, products, operations, and processes used by the textile and allied industries. These courses and seminars are 2 to 5 days in duration and deal with a variety of topics including Six Sigma, Protective Clothing, and Research. Also, courses are available that cover all textile processing from fiber to fabricated products. Industry attendees consist of domestic and international personnel from CEOs to supervisory level individuals. Partnerships with the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, The Textile Clothing/Technology Corporation, the Industrial Extension Service of NC State University College of Engineering and the NC State University College of Management enhance the educational opportunities for the clients of the Professional Education Program.