Engineering Charlotte’s – and North Carolina’s – Future

Friday, March 11, 2022

Charlotte’s tech presence is booming — and keeping pace alongside the region’s fastest-growing industries. Known for its robust tech and energy ecosystems designed to support future growth, the city increasingly is chosen by established corporations and emerging startups as the place to call home.

31% increase in region's tech talent 2016-20

5th largest increase among all major markets

UNC Charlotte — with a $2.1 billion economic impact on the region and a reputation for fueling its talent pipeline — is key to North Carolina’s continued rise in tech and energy relevance. To meet the projected ongoing demand for highly skilled engineers, computer and data scientists, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity experts and other STEM professionals, exciting and powerful investments in programs and facilities are coming to North Carolina’s urban research university. 

That’s great news for Niners eager to make a transformative impact on North Carolina’s future. And we plan to recruit — and graduate — 2,000 more of them.

Support for this unparalleled expansion comes from “Engineering North Carolina’s Future,” an initiative of the North Carolina General Assembly providing UNC Charlotte with $41.2 million over the next two years to create state-of-the-art, collaboration-inspiring learning and research spaces; develop innovative, industry-supporting programs; attract world-class faculty; and welcome new students with unlimited promise. 

$30M Engineering & STEM facilities; $10M Computational Engineering Program; $1.2M Data Science & Cybersecurity; 20 new faculty in Cyber-Physical Security, AI, Visualization/Stimulation

An additional $25 million will upfit the Burson Building, a longtime campus science program mainstay, for a new teaching and interdisciplinary research hub for the William States Lee College of Engineering and the College of Computer Informatics and the School of Data Science — areas of notable University growth and mounting strength.

Bottom Line: Leading-edge programs and world-class facilities attract top-notch talent — and Charlotte has both.

First-class Maker Space

First-class Maker Space

Active Learning Classrooms

Active Learning Classrooms

Visualization/Simulation Lab

Visualization/Simulation Lab

Collaborative Research Space

Collaborative Research Space

 

"UNC Charlotte’s partnerships with global and regional corporations fuel the region’s innovation, entrepreneurship, talent pipeline and economic growth. Future-focused and agile, we respond swiftly to the needs of a dynamic business environment. This investment in STEM resources illuminates the reasons UNC Charlotte plays a pivotal role in leading our city and state toward a successful future." – Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber