The Triangle

Welcome to North Carolina's Research Triangle Region

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is your direct connection to the Research Triangle Region in central North Carolina.

Our region is home to some of the fastest growing companies and communities in the world. Innovation, education and a culture of collaboration are key drivers of the area’s success.

Our Counties

Get to know the counties that make up the Research Triangle Region.

Map of member counties in the Research Triangle Region.

Connect with the region that has it all

We’re Business and Bottom-Line Friendly

More affordable than most metro markets, the Triangle was voted #1 by Forbes for the Best State to do Business.

A man in a business suit writing on post it notes scattered across a board on the wall. The post it notes are scribbled on and are organized into groupings of different colors.
Close up of the backs of students with graduation cap and gowns.

We’ve Got the Best Talent

12 colleges and universities and 8 nationally renowned community colleges attract 174,000 students and produce 65,000 graduates each year.

We’re Closer Than You Think

I-40, I-95, and direct flights from NYC, ATL, BOS, SEA, SFO, BNA, and AUS all connect you with more than 200 million people who live east of the Mississippi.

A zoomed in image of a Delta airliner mid-flight at high altitude.
A long beach view from the top of a pier. The scene contains a number of people walking and enjoying the afternoon with beach homes behind them and the ocean waves in front of them.

We’ve Got the Life You’ve Been Wanting to Live

Vibrant rural and urban communities, all a short drive to the mountains or coast, are full of affordable homes for those seeking a world-class education, culturally rich areas, and an average commute of 24 minutes.

Why Is It Called The 'Research Triangle'?

The Research Triangle gets its name from Research Triangle Park and three Tier 1 research universities—Duke University, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill—located only minutes apart.

A regional map highlighting the three colleges which make up The Triangle of North Carolina. NC State in Raleigh, Duke in Durham, and UNC in Chapel Hill.

Business Climate at a Glance

Over 2 million residents in the Research Triangle Region.
More than 7,000 companies in the Research Triangle Region.
Over 700 international companies in the Research Triangle Region.
The Research Triangle Region has the lowest corporate tax rate in US at 2.5%.

A Diverse Business Ecosystem

The Triangle Region has a diverse business ecosystem with over 7,000 companies across multiple industries including Agtech, Cleantech, Life Sciences, Advantaged Manufacturing and Technology.

See our industries
See our international companies

An Educated Workforce

With 12 colleges and universities and 9 community colleges the Triangle Region is well-equipped to meet the needs of international businesses in diverse industries.

Over 176,000 students are enrolled in higher education in the Triangle.
Approximately 65,000 students graduate every year.
47% of the region has a bachelor's degree or higher.
The Triangle has the 4th highest concentration of PhDs in the country.
3,987 doctorate degrees were awarded in 2017.

Come And Go With Ease

Centrally located between New York and Miami, the Research Triangle Region is easily accessible by Raleigh-Durham International Airport, six regional airports, two ports, and multiple interstates that span from Florida to New York and North Carolina to California.

A map of the United States highlighting the location of NC's Research Triangle Region. The map highlights cities on the east coast and RTRP is located between Washington D.C. and Atlanta, Georgia.
Download our Regional Report