RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – North Carolina’s biotechnology firms are pressing governor-elect Bev Perdue to commit perhaps millions of taxpayer dollars to help save cash-starved companies.

Perdue said Monday after a round-table discussion with industry executives that she wasn’t ready to commit even a penny to help, noting that a looming budget deficit already has her searching for areas to make cuts. But the Democrat did say she believed the sector was highly valuable for the future of the state’s economy.

The biotech officials said many of the smaller or mid-size companies were struggling to find financing and face the prospect of going under if they can’t find cash. Some proposed a public-private partnership that could invest in the firms and draw others to the state.