PIONEERING INNOVATION IN THE UPSTATE

Upstate South Carolina is home to premier industry and research partnerships that are making important breakthroughs each year. The region has a long-established history and infrastructure supporting all levels of the life sciences industry, with companies supplying high purity raw materials and components to production and packaging and distribution. New research and innovation campuses are supporting the growth of longstanding industry players, as well as fueling an ecosystem for start-ups.

Upstate Life Sciences Community

Medical Devices

South Carolina boasts significant business activity within the medical device sector and a particularly robust medical device manufacturing supply chain. From 2017-2022, companies in medical equipment and supplies manufacturing experienced job growth of 60%.

Research & Development

The Upstate has a strong network supporting clinical research as well as a growing patient catchment area. It is home to a variety of incubation spaces and over 700 clinical trials are being conducted at any time in a variety of disciplines.

Major areas of focus: oncology, companion diagnostics, genetics and medical devices.

Pharmaceutical

Upstate South Carolina has an established base of pharmaceutical manufacturers comprised of bulk manufacturers, chemical processors, generic and proprietary drug makers and packagers.

SCBIO

SCBIO supports and advances South Carolina’s life science industry through collaboration, advocacy, workforce development, enhanced purchasing power and education. The organization works towards ensuring that South Carolina’s companies, research institutions, and citizens reap the economic and societal benefits of a world-class life sciences cluster.

Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Campus (CUBEInC)

CUBEInC is a 30,000 square foot research facility located on the Prisma Health’s Patewood campus, focusing on developing high-impact medical technology and devices for disease management. At CUBEInC, Clemson faculty and students work closely with researchers from Prisma Health and the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas in the fields of biomaterials and devices.

Greenwood Genetic Center Partnership Campus

The 191-acre campus is equipped with some of the best data infrastructure in the state and is home to over 180 medical professionals, along with the Clemson University Center for Human Genetics and the Greenwood Genetics Center. It is a dynamic knowledge community for collaboration, providing a deeper research base, a critical mass of scientists and capabilities, and the ability to provide advanced education and training in genetics and life sciences.

Workforce & Training

The Upstate has a network of more than 26 colleges and universities actively working together with industry leaders and educators on all levels, from K-12 to technical training and professional advancement, to ensure access to a highly-skilled workforce for decades to come.

Upstate South Carolina is home to four technical colleges focused on serving the needs of local business and industry. The technical college system works hand-in-hand with its affiliate programs: readySC™, Apprenticeship Carolina™ and QuickJobs Carolina™, so companies located in the area can take full advantage of the extensive education and training network. South Carolina has a strong workforce development system. With these resources, the Upstate is capable of rapidly preparing and retraining workers for new manufacturing systems, such as those potentially required by bio-related operations.

Clemson University is working under a new paradigm for integrated applied research in medical curricula. The University has put a priority of targeted and competitive recruitment of faculty, staff and students, and constructed a unique environment for enhanced visibility and reputation within the industry. The outcomes not only include enhanced patient care and healthcare delivery, but also stimulated economic development and a clear competitive advantage in the medical and biomedical engineering education market place.

Departments:

Bioengineering
Genetics & Biochemistry
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Biological Sciences

Upstate Graduate Programs

Legal and Financial Support

Intellectual Property and Contract Law Professionals

The Upstate provides a rich environment of legal support, with over 100 attorneys and agents with licenses to practice before the US Patent & Trademark Office. As your connection to the Upstate Biosciences industry, we can connect you with these support providers.

Start-Up Grants & Seed Funding

SC Launch! offers qualifying companies commercialization support and guidance, and up to $200K in seed funding. Since its inception in 2006, SCLaunch! has invested over $49.6 million to 180 entities. Forbes named SCLaunch! a TOP 5 program for entrepreneurs!

Venture Funding

VentureSouth is an early stage venture firm that provides capital and expertise to Southeastern startups though an angel investment network and funds. VentureSouth has grown to include more than 450 active investors, making them one of the largest angel investment groups in the United States. To date, VentureSouth has invested more than $70 million in nearly 100 companies.

Other funding programs:

Azalea Capital • Frontier Capital • Noro-Moseley • Charleston Angel Partners • The Trelys Fund

Incentives

South Carolina offers several programs designed to incent the location and expansion of biomedical companies and venture investment within the state including:

An eligibility category for relevant facilities engaged in manufacturing, processing and R&D (NAICS codes 3254 and 334516)
An enhanced Jobs Development Credit, which allows approved bioscience facilities to capture cash rebates for eligible expenditures
The ability to negotiate the apportionment formula used to calculate corporate income tax liability
Equipment depreciations at an accelerated rate of 20%, instead of the previous 11%