Perdue seeks to double size of NC biotech industry

RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue wants North Carolina to become the nation’s biotechnology leader.

Perdue spoke at a biotechnology conference Monday in Raleigh. She said she wants to see the state’s industry more than double in size during her first term and grow from $45 billion per year to $100 billion per year.

She said business could include new energy and advances in medicine.

North Carolina is already the third largest state for biotechnology, but Perdue said she’d like to pass California and Massachusetts to become the national leader.

The governor spoke at a conference held by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and the Council for Entrepreneurial Development.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)