RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Innovation is the nucleus of the Upstate. Our industries are patent-generating powerhouses, backed by one of America’s highest concentrations of engineering talent. Deemed “The New Startup South” by Bloomberg, our region is small in size though strong in its ability to meet industry needs.

Creators behind many of the Upstate’s products – from Ryobi power tools to Prisma Health’s VESper ventilator expander – benefit from collaborative innovation campuses and entrepreneurial support. Together, industries and academic researchers are pioneering advancements across fields from genetic discovery to light weighting materials.

Innovation Clusters

Innovation in Upstate South Carolina is propelled by collaborative research campuses driven by industry needs. From innovation in packaging design at Clemson University’s Sonoco Institute to advancements of robotics in manufacturing at The Greenville Technical College Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) Breakthrough applied research is conducted in world-class labs at Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), while International Transportation Innovation Center (ITiC) is serving as a proving ground for mobility innovation.

Business and Technology Incubators

In addition to its academic research and industry partnerships, the Upstate region is also home to a growing number of business incubators, co-working spaces and technology training resources:

• The NEXT Innovation Center, a business incubator for entrepreneurs, startups and small technology businesses.
• Next Manufacturing offers flexible short-term leases and an unprecedented support system to both start-ups and well established manufacturing firms.
• Spartanburg Community College’s Spark Center.
• University of South Carolina Upstate’s The Greenhouse Business Incubator.
• A growing number of collaborative, flex-term and low-cost collaborative working spaces such as Endeavor and Textile Hall, among many others, are offered in the Upstate region.

With all of these regional assets combined, it’s no surprise that Greenville was ranked 5th in the nation in net business creation, according to Inc’s 50 Best US Cities for Starting a Business.

Let our team connect you to innovation space that suits your needs.

Support for Innovation

The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy through the impact of its four programs. SC Academic Innovations provides funding and support to advance multi-institutional, translational research and accelerate the growth of university-based startups. SC Facilities offers high-quality laboratory and administrative workspaces for technology-based startups and academic institutions. SC Industry Solutions facilitates and funds partnerships between and among startups, industry, and academia. SC Launch mentors and funds technology-based startups that may also receive investments from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch, Inc.

From working with entrepreneurs, to engaging industry, the SCRA is passionate about fueling innovation that creates opportunities for the South Carolina. View the SCRA’s impact metrics below:

• Awarded $2.4M in grants in FY20; Grants help advance research capabilities, commercialize technology, expand product offerings, fund relocation costs, and more
• Supported 5.3K South Carolina-based jobs in FY20
• $74.2K average salary of companies in the SC Launch Program, 59% higher than the average state salary
• $9.9M funding to support academic research, startups, and infrastructure in 2018-2020
• 47 academically affiliated companies currently supported by SCRA
• $29.9M follow-on funding in 2018-2020 for grant awardees

Learn more about the SCRA and how they fuel South Carolina’s Innovation Economy.

GE Renewable Energy supports worldwide development of renewable energy products. Hear how#TeamUpstate resources facilitated their growth.