RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK -- Biotechnology continues to grow in North Carolina but there are some growing pains. As the industry grows, companies need more employees and there is some concern North Carolina can't provide enough employees.

That was a big focus at a forum on Friday by the N.C. State College of Management.

In February, President Bush visited Franklin County and toured Novozymes, a biotech looking for ways to make alternative fuels.

"I think that indicates a little bit that when a president wants to come and talk to a biotech company in North Carolina, that indicates the companies here are on the forefront and also it has a very high status on the national agenda," said Thomas Nagy from Novozymes.

North Carolina ranks third nationally in the number of biotech companies. The industry employs roughly 46,000 people with an average salary of $63,000.

While the state touts its success in the biotechnology industry, there is still plenty of work to be done and that includes the recruiting of employees.

"Yes, and I actually see a shortage of the technology people still," said Dr. Richard Kouri, of the Biopharma Management Initiative. "Again we see so much of the technology, good training and people trained outside the United States and not here."

Biotech experts also believe the state needs to invest in middle-sized companies to grow.

"I think what's really sustainable is to grow the companies right here with homegrown ideas, homegrown people and hopefully homegrown dollars," Dr. Kouri added.

Biotech includes a wide range of jobs and products from making medicine to alternative fuels, but some believe the biggest future lies in medtech companies that make products like implantable defibrillators.

"We have very good medical schools in this state. We need good biomedical engineering programs to really grow this medtech space, so the state needs to invest in that," said Daniel Pelak, from InnerPulse Inc.

Biotech executives believe finding those educated workers remains the top priority if North Carolina wants to remain ahead in the industry.