The Triangle

It’s Not Just a Shape or a Region, it’s an Engine for Growth.

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) helps connect companies to opportunities, resources, and their own untapped potential.

This region is not only home to some of the fastest growing companies and communities in the world, it’s home to an educated workforce, limitless room for growth, and some of the highest quality of living you can find in the United States. Let’s talk about how you can be a part of it.

Our Counties

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

Map of member counties in the Research Triangle Region.

One Region, Endless Resources

We’re All In On Business.

We’re one of the fastest growing regions that’s more affordable than most metro markets. All in a state voted Top State for Business by CNBC, two years in a row.

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’re Talented Beyond Belief.

12 colleges and universities, 9 nationally renowned community colleges, and 4 HBCUs produce 65,000 local graduates each year.

We’re Connected to the World.

There’s nothing “regional” about the work we do here — it has global implications. Luckily, the region is situated at a crossroads of rail and road corridors, and is connected with direct flights to major airports all over the US and Europe.

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’re Living Large.

With low cost of living and vibrant urban, suburban, and rural communities full of available, affordable homes, there’s a lot to love about living here. Plus, beaches and mountains are just short drives away — not to mention an average commute time of only 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

There is a never-ending pipeline of talent flowing between these institutions and the business community. With one of the most educated workforces in the nation, hiring and expanding couldn’t be easier.

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.

Make the Triangle Your Home Base, While Staying Connected to the World.

The Research Triangle Region is easily accessible through direct flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, six regional airports, two ports, and multiple interstates.

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