S14E8 - Megan Damico on Growing North Carolina’s Bioeconomy

Nov. 3, 2026 GES Colloquium | A discussion of the current state of NC's bioeconomy, emerging opportunities and challenges, and how strategic partnerships are helping translate biotechnology innovation into economic growth across the state.

Growing North Carolina’s Bioeconomy: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward

Megan Damico, Ph.D.

Associate Director, Focused Initiatives Team, North Carolina Biotechnology Center | Profile | LinkedIn

Full details at https://ges.research.ncsu.edu/event/colloquium-2026-11-03 | Watch the video

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AI-generated Overview and Summary

This GES Colloquium featured a presentation by Megan Damico, Associate Director at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NC Biotech). The talk covered three interconnected themes: Damico's non-linear career path from honeybee gut microbiome research to science policy and economic development; an overview of NC Biotech's role in North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem; and a detailed exploration of the state's bioeconomy — its current landscape, key strengths, and future opportunities for growth.

Key Concepts or Theories

Bioeconomy: A subsector of life sciences focused on economic activity that uses biology or biological tools to make products and processes, offering sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based industries
Ecosystem Thinking: The idea that careers, institutions, funding, and incentives are interconnected — much like a biological microbiome — and that collective action drives greater impact than individual efforts
Science Translation: The ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences (policymakers, farmers, community members) as a critical professional skill
Coalition Building: Bringing together stakeholders from government, private sector, and academia to address systemic challenges and unlock economic development opportunities
Valley of Death: The critical gap between laboratory-scale innovation and commercial-scale production, particularly relevant for precision fermentation and bio-based technologies
Bio-Literacy: The general population's ability to understand biotechnology and its societal implications, identified as inequitably distributed across North Carolina communities

Important Questions Raised

How does NC Biotech navigate stakeholder tensions around emerging technologies like alternative proteins, particularly in communities with strong ties to conventional animal agriculture?
What role should NC Biotech play in expanding its support to consumer-facing and bio-based innovation beyond its traditional focus on pharma and medical life sciences?
To what extent can NC Biotech influence bio-literacy and educational policy, given its funding relationship with the state legislature?
How can North Carolina's bioeconomy grow beyond the Research Triangle Park (RTP) concentration to reach all 100 counties?
Where do defense and life sciences intersect, and how can North Carolina leverage that overlap for economic and national security benefit?

Key Takeaways and Summary of Learning Objectives

NC Biotech, founded in 1984, is the first state-funded economic development organization exclusively focused on life sciences and biotechnology, serving as the "ecosystem glue" for North Carolina's life sciences community
North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem includes over 860 companies, 170 manufacturing sites, and employs over 76,000 people statewide — making it one of the most geographically diverse life sciences ecosystems in the country
The bioeconomy, as a subsector of life sciences, employs just over 22,000 people in North Carolina and spans four categories: human health, agriculture, industrial biotech, and bioresources
Non-traditional career paths — including science policy, economic development, and community engagement — are viable and impactful options for PhD and master's graduates
Transferable skills such as writing, project management, and task prioritization are highly valuable outside of academic research settings
Bio-literacy is unevenly distributed across North Carolina, and improving it is essential for equitable participation in the growing bioeconomy
Strengthening the bioeconomy requires aligning innovation, infrastructure, workforce development, funding, and cross-sector partnerships at both state and federal levels

Topic 1: Megan Damico's Career Path and Professional Insights

Damico's career trajectory illustrates how curiosity and adaptability can lead to impactful, non-traditional roles in science. Originally from Michigan and a first-generation college student, she pursued a liberal arts education that emphasized the intersection of science and society. Her interest in beekeeping led her to an undergraduate research program at UT Austin, where she was placed in a world-renowned honeybee gut microbiome lab — an opportunity she had not anticipated.

She went on to complete her PhD at UNC Greensboro in 2023, studying honeybee gut microbiomes. During graduate school, she recognized that academic research alone would not fulfill her desire for broad societal impact. This realization prompted her to explore science policy and advocacy, including involvement with the American Society for Microbiology and fellowship opportunities through DC-based think tanks. She conducted over 70 informational interviews, one of which — with John Hardin at the NC Department of Commerce — led her to the North Carolina STEM Policy Fellowship, run through the Sea Grant program at NC State.

This fellowship placed her at NC Biotech, where she worked on community engagement for workforce development in biomanufacturing. Upon completing her fellowship, she transitioned into a full-time role as part of NC Biotech's Focused Initiatives team, where she now works at the intersection of science, business, policy, and community engagement.

Key professional advice shared during the presentation:

Conduct informational interviews with professionals whose careers seem interesting — these conversations can be career-defining
Recognize and articulate transferable skills: writing, project management, task prioritization, and the ability to translate science for diverse audiences
Follow intellectually interesting questions, even when they lead to unexpected places
Think of yourself as part of a broader ecosystem — your work has meaning in context with others around you

Relevant Q\&A

Question: What type of work gets you excited, and how should students think about their next career steps?

Answer: Damico encouraged attendees to reflect on whether they prefer working independently or collaboratively, and what motivates them daily. She emphasized that a career goal does not need to be a specific job title — it can be a set of values, such as curiosity, connection, and impact.

Topic 2: NC Biotech and North Carolina's Life Sciences Ecosystem

NC Biotech was established in 1984 as the first state-funded economic development organization dedicated exclusively to life sciences and biotechnology. Its core mission is to grow jobs, support companies, and move innovation out of laboratories and into the broader economy across all of North Carolina.

NC Biotech supports the ecosystem through several mechanisms:

Early-stage loans with mentorship and talent connections for small companies and startups
Intellectual Exchange Groups — externally run networking communities organized around specific life sciences sectors, including the Biomanufacturing and Process Development Group, the Microbiome Consortium, the Plant Molecular Biology Consortium, Women in Bio, and Triangle Biotech Tuesday
Coalition-building initiatives such as Accelerate NC, a $25 million Economic Development Administration-funded program to address life sciences manufacturing workforce shortages, which brought together community colleges, HBCUs, and community partners
The NC AgTech Council, which convenes stakeholders to address agricultural innovation challenges and recruit relevant companies to the region
The Farmer Innovation Bridge, a new initiative co-led by the NC Chamber Foundation and NC Biotech, designed to connect farmers directly with innovators to ensure that agricultural technology solutions address real, farmer-identified problems
Federal engagement, including monitoring legislation, educating congressional staff, and advocating for North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem in Washington, DC

North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem is distinguished by its geographic diversity — companies span from Wilmington to Asheville and from Raleigh to Charlotte — and by the breadth of sectors represented, including pharmaceuticals, contract research, agricultural technology, and biomanufacturing. A notable example of the ecosystem's national significance is Baxter Healthcare Innovations in western North Carolina, which produces the nation's supply of IV bags; when Hurricane Helene damaged the facility, it caused a nationwide hospital shortage, underscoring the national security dimensions of life sciences infrastructure.

Relevant Q\&A

Question: Does NC Biotech have a position on right to repair for agricultural equipment?

Answer: Damico clarified that NC Biotech does not have an official position on right to repair, but acknowledged the issue — farmers are often unable to repair their own equipment due to manufacturer restrictions, even when they have the technical knowledge to do so.

Question: What resources and productivity have specialized research centers at HBCUs such as Bright and URI at NCECU brought to the table?

Answer: Damico highlighted Bright at NC Central University as a significant asset to North Carolina's bioeconomy. She noted that a graph tracking biomanufacturing company recruitment to North Carolina shows clear upward inflections corresponding to the establishment of BTEC at NC State and Bright at NC Central — demonstrating that university-based technical infrastructure directly drives ecosystem growth. She was unfamiliar with the second institution mentioned and indicated she would research it.

Topic 3: The Bioeconomy — Definition, Current State, and Future Vision

The bioeconomy refers to economic activity that specifically uses biology or biological tools to produce products and processes. It is a subsector of the broader life sciences industry, distinguished from general life sciences manufacturing (e.g., syringes or plastic molds) by its reliance on biological systems. The bioeconomy is gaining increased attention as a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based industries and as a means of addressing challenges in food security, disease treatment, fuel production, and materials manufacturing.

Globally, the EU and Southeast Asian nations have had formal bioeconomy strategies for approximately two decades. The United States produced a bioeconomy blueprint in 2012 but still lacks a comprehensive national bioeconomy strategy as of 2026. Programs such as the BioPreferred label and manufacturing innovation institutes like BioMADE have provided partial frameworks, but a cohesive national approach remains absent.

In North Carolina, the bioeconomy is organized into four categories:

Human Health — pharmaceuticals, biologics, and some medical devices, concentrated in the Research Triangle Park area
Agriculture — biologics and ag tech applications
Industrial Biotech — precision fermentation, bio-based chemicals, textiles, and commodities
Bioresources — raw biological inputs such as biomass, agricultural residues, and sugars that feed into bio-based processes

Notable North Carolina bioeconomy companies include Agritex (microbial coatings for eggs), Curico (synthetic biology for cosmetics and food ingredients), Novonesis (industrial enzyme production), and DMC Chemical (bio-based chemicals for personal care and human health).

Future priorities identified by NC Biotech's Focused Initiatives team:

Building precision fermentation scale-up capacity in the Triangle through a bioprocessing consortium, to help companies move from laboratory scale to commercial scale
Improving bio-literacy equity across North Carolina's counties and school systems, including updating the 8th-grade biotech curriculum to reflect advances in synthetic biology
Expanding life sciences activity beyond RTP to all regions of the state, with a particular focus on western North Carolina
Mapping the intersection of defense and life sciences, including biologically produced materials for military use, medical readiness, food security, and biological threat detection

Relevant Q\&A

Question: How does NC Biotech navigate stakeholder tensions around alternative proteins, balancing excitement from some stakeholders with resistance from others, and managing misinformation?

Answer: Damico described an approach centered on reading the room — assessing the stakeholder group's existing knowledge and comfort level with biotechnology before introducing new concepts. She emphasized meeting stakeholders where they are, starting from shared concerns (e.g., sustainability challenges in animal agriculture) rather than leading with technology. She noted that NC Biotech monitors related policy developments, such as labeling legislation and research bans, and relies on partners like the Bezos Center for Sustainable Proteins and the Good Food Institute for deeper policy advocacy.

Question: A community member raised the concern that NC Biotech's support structures do not adequately serve consumer-facing, bio-based innovation companies (e.g., skincare, personal care), which often fall outside the traditional pharma and medical device focus.

Answer: Damico acknowledged this as valid and recurring feedback, both from the community and internally at NC Biotech. She noted that her colleague Jen Greenstein is developing a bioprocessing resource page to highlight the broader range of bio-based capabilities in the state, and that the team is actively working to expand the narrative beyond pharma. She was transparent that she is not a decision-maker at the executive level but confirmed that this direction is being pursued.

Question: To what extent does NC Biotech see itself as having a role in bio-literacy and educational policy, and does the bio-literacy argument resonate with state legislators?

Answer: Damico noted that North Carolina's General Assembly has become increasingly bio-literate over the years, as evidenced by sustained investments in educational centers at community colleges and universities. The state has a Life Sciences Caucus — a relatively rare feature among state legislatures — convened in partnership with NC Life Sci, the lobbying entity for life sciences. NC Biotech itself does not lobby or directly shape educational policy, but participates in NC Bio Impact, a public-private partnership that brings together universities, community colleges, private sector representatives, and government officials to discuss curriculum development and workforce alignment.

Actionable Next Steps / Assignments

Attendees interested in AI literacy are encouraged to complete the survey being conducted by Alice Chang for the GES community (QR code was displayed during the presentation; estimated completion time: 10–15 minutes)
Students and postdocs interested in science policy careers are encouraged to explore the North Carolina STEM Policy Fellowship, run through the Sea Grant program at NC State
Students are encouraged to attend Triangle Biotech Tuesday networking events, which attract recruiters and industry professionals
Students interested in sustainability and life sciences are encouraged to apply to the Sustainable Future Fellows Program through the Climate and Sustainability Academy, led by Don Rodriguez Ward, which includes mentoring, networking, stipend, and summer funding opportunities
Attendees are encouraged to explore NC Biotech's Intellectual Exchange Groups via the NC Biotech website for networking and professional development opportunities
Next week's GES Colloquium will feature Daryl Stover, Head of Grants at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science

Supplemental Resources

NC Biotech Website: Information on Intellectual Exchange Groups, loan programs, and bioprocessing resources — recommended for students and researchers seeking to engage with North Carolina's life sciences ecosystem
Triangle Biotech Tuesday: A recurring networking event series highly recommended for students and postdocs seeking industry connections and employment opportunities
North Carolina STEM Policy Fellowship (Sea Grant Program, NC State): A fellowship placing masters and PhD students in public service roles at agencies such as the NC Department of Transportation, NC Department of Commerce, and NC Biotech — relevant for students interested in science policy careers
NC Bio Impact: A public-private partnership hosted by NC Biotech focused on life sciences curriculum development and workforce alignment across universities, community colleges, and the private sector
Sustainable Future Fellows Program (Climate and Sustainability Academy): Open for applications; includes mentoring, networking, and funding opportunities closely aligned with GES themes

__ Recorded from NC State’s GES Colloquium, this podcast examines how biotechnologies take shape in the world: microbiome engineering in built environments, gene editing and gene drives, forest and agricultural genomics, data governance and equity, risk and regulation, sci-art, and public engagement in practice.

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GES Center at NC State University—Integrating scientific knowledge & diverse public values in shaping the futures of biotechnology.

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