North Carolina Research Campus

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The North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) is a mixed-use research facility located in downtown Kannapolis, North Carolina, approximately 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Charlotte. Launched in 2005 on a site formerly occupied by Plant One of the Cannon Mills Company in Kannapolis, North Carolina, it stands as the youngest of North Carolina's several renowned research and technology hubs. When completed, the 350-acre (1.4 km²) campus will house some of the most state-of-the-art laboratory space in the United States and is expected to become home to over 100 biotechnology companies. It is a massive scientific and economic revitalization project that encompasses the grounds of the former Cannon Mills plant (most recently known as the Pillowtex company)and entire downtown area of Kannapolis, North Carolina. The David H. Murdock "Core Lab" will be largely operated by Duke University. Other universities will include UNC at Chapel Hill, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, among others.

David H. Murdock (owner of Castle & Cooke, Inc. and Dole Food Company, Inc.) and Molly Corbett Broad (former President of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system) unveiled plans on September 12, 2005 for the North Carolina Research Campus.

With 5,800,000 square feet (539,000 m²), the complex is a collaborative project involving Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and N.C. State University, along with many other private/corporate investors and developers. The facility incorporates corporate, academic, commercial, and residential space, with an orientation towards R&D and biotechnology.