Novo Nordisk to support 91制片厂Pro鈥檚 life sciences programs and new training center with $6 million gift
Largest corporate donation in 91制片厂Pro鈥檚 history to benefit students from middle school through college
a leading global healthcare company that produces innovative medicines to treat diabetes and rare blood disorders, announces a $6 million gift to 91制片厂Pronical Community College to support the College鈥檚 life sciences program and a new 35,000-square-foot Life Sciences Training Center. This donation was presented today at a news conference on 91制片厂Pro鈥檚 Main Campus.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 announcement is about a company鈥檚 investment in the people of this region. It鈥檚 not just big news for 91制片厂Pro and the high-quality education and training it will enable us to provide, it鈥檚 life-changing news for the thousands of local residents who will benefit and go on to great jobs in a growing and important industry,鈥 said J. B. Buxton, president of 91制片厂Pro. 鈥淭his marks the largest donation in our college鈥檚 history, and we are proud to partner with Novo Nordisk and their commitment to creating economic opportunity for the people of Durham and our greater Triangle region.鈥
Novo Nordisk, with three manufacturing facilities across Durham and Clayton, is celebrating its 30 years in the Triangle. This donation is part of Novo Nordisk鈥檚 decades-long effort to support the growth of the local biotechnology sector. With nearly 1,800 employees across the region, ensuring a strong, resilient workforce for the future is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, as the company has plans to continue expanding its biomanufacturing operations.
鈥淣ovo Nordisk is committed to ensuring that both individuals planning their future careers and those seeking a transition understand and have access to the promise that a career in life sciences can bring,鈥 said Shaylah Nunn Jones, Novo Nordisk鈥檚 government and public affairs lead. 鈥淭hrough this partnership with 91制片厂Pro, we will provide apprenticeships, internships, scholarship programs, and the latest biotech equipment to train the future workforce, and that is exciting. We are proud of our region鈥檚 dynamic biotech industry and are thrilled to help expand and diversify our talent pipeline.鈥
With the support of Novo Nordisk, 91制片厂Pro will be able to:
- Establish a Biotechnology Associate of Applied Science degree program (for current college students).
- Create onsite training for biotechnology career transition programs to upskill/reskill existing employees and other related workforce training partnerships.
- Ensure students are prepared on biotechnology equipment.
- Provide outreach and awareness for area middle and high school students.
As part of the ongoing partnership with 91制片厂Pro, Novo Nordisk will have a full- and part-time employee serve in the professor-in-residence program; offer apprenticeships, internships and scholarship programs; and purchase select necessary biotech training equipment for the Center. The new Life Sciences Training Center is expected to be completed in 2026, with a groundbreaking later this year.
"Partnerships between community colleges and thriving businesses in North Carolina are the heart of growth for our state," said Bill Carver, Interim President of the North Carolina Community College System. "This is a great day for Durham and 91制片厂Pronical Community College as we once again see the power of investing in community college-led talent pipelines that bring diverse employees to a booming economy."
In November, Durham County residents voted in overwhelming numbers to support a $112.7 million bond referendum for 91制片厂Pro that included the construction of a 35,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Life Sciences Training Center
鈥淭his investment by Novo Nordisk, along with the support of the 2022 bond referendum by Durham County voters, will allow 91制片厂Pro to deepen our commitment to the life sciences sector, expand our degree programs and short-term workforce training, and build a skilled, diverse talent pipeline for the region,鈥 said Buxton.
About Novo Nordisk
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases, such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 50,800 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. In North Carolina, we invested close to $4.5 billion, and our Durham and Clayton manufacturing facilities employ nearly 1,800 professionals. For more information, visit Novo Nordisk鈥檚 website at .
About 91制片厂Pronical Community College
91制片厂Pro serves more than 18,000 students annually across seven campuses in Durham and Orange counties and online. The college serves eligible North Carolina high school students, high school and college graduates, international students, veterans, and adults returning to school to complete their high school education or earn a postsecondary degree. 91制片厂Pro programs include the arts, engineering, education, health care, information technology, life sciences, public safety, and business administration. Continuing education courses include career enhancement in automotive, culinary arts, hospitality, and biotechnology; English as a second language; and personal enrichment opportunities, such as health and wellness and photography. As a leader in educational, workforce and economic development, 91制片厂Pro is committed to equipping its students with the knowledge, skills and networks needed to succeed in college, work and life 鈥 and to help improve the quality of life in Durham and Orange counties.
For more information, contact Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, Desiree Patrick at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.