Taking South Carolina’s Innovation to CES

Electronics Show Offers Trends & Business Connections

When more than 1,800 global companies showcased their industry-leading technology solutions at CES 2022, South Carolina was among them.

We were represented by major brands and pioneers in their industries, from BMW, Bosch, Schneider Electric, Samsung, Abbott, Magna International, Plastic Omnium, and ZF.

Products and solutions engineered and made in South Carolina were not the only items in lights: the Upstate SC Alliance, Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) and South Carolina Department of Commerce collaborated to share why South Carolina is just right for business, an international powerhouse destination where manufacturing and technology intersect.

Innovators joining the team include:

• Pozyx, a Belgian real-time tracking technology provider whose Greenville office serves as its North American headquarters
• eGroup, a Charleston-headquartered IT service provider with clients in industries including healthcare, financial services and advanced logistics
• Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research
• University of South Carolina Office of Economic Engagement

“I am very excited to be part of the Team South Carolina delegation at CES 2022,” said Yves Ghys, who led the company’s U.S. market entry and served as President of Pozyx Americas through July 2022 . “I’m looking forward to my very first participation with Pozyx at CES, and am even more enthusiastic to share my first-hand experience on the soft landing and warm welcome we received while starting up Pozyx Inc. in the Upstate. Partnering with a local business organization that embraces and stimulates innovation is of great value, and having their active support to build the fundamentals for a joint Belgian Technology Hub is priceless.”

The state’s collaborative research assets and engineering talent were on display, too: The Indy Autonomous Challenge was among the highlights of the Transportation & Vehicle Technology. The challenge was held in October 2021, using the first-ever autonomous-capable racecar that was engineered by CU-ICAR’s educational vehicle prototyping program, Deep Orange. What’s more, CU-ICAR is using Pozyx location-tracking technology to research autonomous solutions.

Small to mid-size enterprises also joined the action. Additional South Carolina exhibitors included:

• Heatworks, a Mount Pleasant-based company which has patented, licensable technologies for heating water and liquids quickly and at high volumes for applications in smart home and appliances, startups and sustainability. (Booth #50850)
• Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc., a Columbia-based subsidiary of Nitek, Inc., which develops, manufactures and sells LED products using proprietary, patented technology. (Booth #16793)
• Stevara, LLC, which was founded and incorporated in 2018 in Charleston, SC by two physicians with a long track record of innovation and implementation of technology in primary care. The mission of Stevara, LLC is to develop solutions to improve the diagnosis and management of chronic diseases. (Booth #61325)

The Cutting Edge for Economic Development

CES has grown in prominence in recent years. Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, innovators in the consumer electronics landscape used the event to introduce wearables and tech gadgets to early adopters like your tech-guru uncle.

In 2021, it’s where hundreds of thought leaders gathered “to show you how tech has never been more important in our lives,” according to the event site.

Interest in the show is growing among economic developers, too. The Upstate Alliance and CRDA first exhibited in 2020 and attended in previous years. In 2022, they were joined by other international community exhibitors such as the Istanbul Development Agency, the Italian Trade Agency, the Japan Tech Project, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and the Mississippi Development Authority.

For communities like the Upstate and Charleston, it’s a chance to boast innovation emerging from our areas, keep up with the latest trends, and connect with companies considering new business locations.

And with product categories including 3D printing, AI/robotics, health & wellness, IoT infrastructure and transportation/vehicle technology, it’s hard to find a frontier that doesn’t align with South Carolina’s business community.

When asked to define the opportunity for growth within Upstate SC, ChartSpan Chief Executive Officer Jon-Michial Carter put it best:

“Everybody wants to peg: ‘What’s the big vertical? What’s the sliver of types of companies that exist in the Upstate?’ And the truth is, there’s a remarkable, diversified group,” he says. “Whether you’re incubating, or whether you’re closing a $100 million round of capital, all of it is possible here.”

Let’s Connect

Is your business expanding or looking at new geographies for growth? Connect with our team today to learn more about doing business in Upstate SC.

Note: This post was initially published in December 2021 and updated in July 2022.