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RTP Aerial view

Research Triangle Park (RTP)

Where Innovation Meets Opportunity

Just minutes from campus, Research Triangle Park (RTP) connects NC State students to one of the most dynamic innovation hubs in the world. As part of the Research Triangle — alongside Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill — NC State sits at the heart of a thriving ecosystem of global companies, startups, research labs and entrepreneurs.

Often referred to as the Silicon Valley of the East Coast, RTP spans approximately 7,000 acres and is home to more than 300 companies employing over 50,000 professionals across science, technology, engineering, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. For NC State students, that means unmatched access to internships, research partnerships and career pathways — all just down the road.

Get connected to top companies in RTP, including Fidelity Investments, IBM, Cisco, Labcorp, Microsoft, Google, Epic Games, SAS and more.

A Region Built for Innovation

Surrounded by Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, students benefit from a vibrant professional community, entrepreneurial energy and a strong job market.

Powered by Research Universities

This unique academic partnership fuels industry innovation, applied research and cross-institution collaboration.

Industry at Your Doorstep

Just minutes from campus, students gain direct access to internships, research partnerships and career opportunities with global employers.

Graduate students work in the Pulp and paper lab on the Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI). SAFI is a major global university-industry partnership effort focused on researching, developing and utilizing alternative fibers to manufacture a myriad of sustainable products.
Graduate students work in the Department of Forest Biomaterials (CNR) on the Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative.
A professor listens as a graduate student talks about research.

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Research with NC State

Industry Partner Connections

Innovation is a team sport. That’s why we reach out to partners across the public and private sectors in our search for global solutions. In every partnership — from driving innovation with the National Science Foundation to helping businesses bring ideas to market — we work for more than our own interests: We seek solutions that will serve all of society.

Learn more about our connections
Phill Castellano, Professor, Goodnight Innovation Distinguished Chair, AAAS Fellow; Co-Director, Organic and Carbon Electronics Cluster, works with a graduate student at a laser lab on Centennial Campus. Photo by Marc Hall

Research Across Disciplines

Research occurs in all fields, but can look very different from one pursuit to the next. Look through different research options to see a variety of examples. We recommend considering how your interests overlap with other fields—students can do research outside their major or college.

Learn more undergraduate research
Reid Barnett, a Ph.D. student in fiber and polymer science in the Wilson College of Textiles, works with nonwoven textiles made of hollow fiber to create a base for floating islands holding seeds. As the plants grow and are harvested, they pull excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, removing pollution from that water. Photo by Becky Kirkland.
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