News

USC RESEARCHER AWARDED "CRYSTAL FLAME"

Congratulations to Dr. Branko Popov, professor and director of the Center for Electrochemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Popov and the Center were recognized with a FuelCellSouth Crystal Flame Innovation Award in the Research category for a process for preparing thin film membrane assemblies with nanostructured Pt-alloy catalysts with Co, No, and Cr. The USC Center is also developing a Pulse Electro-Deposition technique for the preparation of membrane electrode assemblies.

In 2003, Dr. Popov received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop novel non precious metal catalyst for fuel cells. The goal of the work is to construct and test membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with different non-precious metallic nanoclusters and to demonstrate the potential to perform at least as good as the conventional Pt catalysts currently in use in MEAs.

FuelCellSouth formed as an outgrowth of the collaborative work between industry and researchers in the Southeastern United States to identify and index the opportunities for collaboration in the delivery of fuel cell-based solutions in the commercial and consumer markets.

In an effort to broaden the market awareness, stimulate capital investment and create partnership opportunities FuelCellSouth presents Crystal Flame Innovation Awards. Nominations are accepted from entrepreneurs, researchers and existing business residing in the Southeastern United States. A panel comprised of industry analysts, researchers and capital investors is tasked to review each nomination against key criteria centered on innovation and potential market impact.
 

USC TOPS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FOR 16TH YEAR

The University of South Carolina's graduate program in international business is the top-ranked public university program in the country and No. 2 among all institutions, according to U.S.News & World Report.

The ranking marks the 16th consecutive year that the program at the Moore School of Business has been ranked either No. 1 or 2. The only public university ranked in the top five, USC outpaced Columbia University, Harvard University, Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and the University of Southern California.

The ranking appears in the book, "America's Best Graduate Schools," (on newsstands April 4) and in the magazine’s April 11 edition (available online April 1 at www.usnews.com).

Joel Smith, dean of the Moore School of Business, said the elite ranking affirms the university's continued commitment to its international business program.

"The Moore School has placed one or two in U.S.News & World Report for graduate international business since these rankings were first published," Smith said. "Maintaining this lofty perch over 16 years is further testimony to the outstanding contributions of the faculty, staff and students of the Moore School. Good faculty attract good students. Their service to the school is greatly appreciated, and we are pleased to see that performance reflected in this ranking."
 

MICROSOFT CHOOSES IDV SOFTWARE FOR X-BOX

Congratulations to Interactive Data Visualization, Inc., a USC Columbia Technology Incubator graduate. Its SpeedTreeRT™ is the first and only foliage middleware provider for the next generation Xbox® platform, the video game system under development by Microsoft that builds on the extremely successful Xbox console.

Tracey Frankcom, Xbox Tools and Middleware manager, credited SpeedTree’s unequaled beauty, wind effects and efficiency as key reasons. “We have carefully investigated SpeedTree and have been impressed.” She said SpeedTree runtime technology offers game developers a means to help address the time and expense associated with content creation, and “harnesses the power of the platform without sacrificing artistic control or compromising on the visual fidelity that will be increasingly important in the High Definition gaming era. Next generation Xbox players will quickly come to appreciate – and expect – SpeedTree powered titles.”

For more information about IDV, visit www.idvinc.com.

BRAIN IMAGING CENTER AWARDED FIRST HEALTH SCIENCES SOUTH CAROLINA ENDOWED CHAIR

Health Sciences South Carolina has awarded its first endowed chair matching grant, committing $5 million toward the establishment of the South Carolina Brain Imaging Center of Excellence. The Center will serve as the impetus for an industrial cluster in the lucrative multidisciplinary field of brain imaging, integrating the intellectual resources of the University of South Carolina (USC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) with new physical resources so the two universities can jointly compete internationally for funding, projects, and people.

The award will also help facilitate purchase of a 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, which will be located in a facility on the campus of Palmetto Health Richland. MUSC already has a 3T MRI scanner, used cooperatively by MUSC and USC scientists for research and patient care. Palmetto Health will use the high field strength MRI scanner for clinical research and patient care. Plans are to add a third 3T MRI scanner in the Upstate on the campus of Greenville Hospital System. The three high-field scanners will be electronically linked and integrated through the Brain Imaging Center.

Health Sciences South Carolina founding partners USC President Andrew Sorensen, Palmetto Health Chief Executive Officer Kester Freeman, MUSC President Ray Greenberg and Greenville Hospital System President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Pinckney made the announcement.

USC’s Sorensen hailed the award as a “victory” for legislators and the people of South Carolina. “When the General Assembly agreed to make funding available to our state’s research universities through the South Carolina Research Centers of Economic Excellence Act, they created a ‘window of opportunity’ for transforming South Carolina’s economy. Today, Health Sciences South Carolina has responded by committing $5 million to advancing brain imaging clinical research and patient care. The Brain Imaging Center will allow USC and MUSC to accelerate the pace of research by leveraging USC’s expertise in cognitive neuroscience, computer science, engineering and public health and MUSC’s international reputation in brain imaging and new brain therapies, making South Carolina more competitive nationally and internationally,” Sorensen said.

Echoing Sorensen’s remarks, Palmetto Health’s Freeman said, “The goal of the Collaborative is to achieve tangible benefits for our state as quickly as possible, recognizing that stimulating economic growth through health sciences research and education requires a long-term commitment. In the case of the Brain Imaging Center, South Carolinians will see an immediate return on investment. The fact that the Brain Imaging Center will be actively engaged in patient care in a state adversely affected by stroke, particularly among the African-American community, is very exciting.”

Joining Health Sciences South Carolina partners in the announcement were the Brain Imaging Center’s co-directors, Mark George, M.D., director, MUSC Center for Advanced Imaging Research, and Gordon C. Baylis, Ph.D., associate provost for academic initiatives, USC.

George says the Brain Imaging Center has the potential to impact economic development in several ways: attracting multi-million dollar grants and research partnerships, the sale of patents on technology developed by the Center, and job creation. The integrated statewide network of 3T MRI scanners located in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville will help South Carolina lure companies interested in conducting large-scale clinical trials.

“The fact that we can offer three of the most powerful MRI scanners in the world in three very different geographies is very attractive to companies that need to test new technologies or pharmaceuticals in a large, ethnically diverse population,” Baylis said.

Baylis explained the Brain Imaging Center will target research projects that focus on neuro-degenerative disease like stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; serious health threats that are all too common in South Carolina. “Our state is at or near the top of the list in these diseases due to the age, poor diet, lack or exercise and smoking. While it is a problem, South Carolina’s poor health status also represents an opportunity for us to make significant improvements.”

GHS’s President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Pinckney said, “In a state that is primarily rural in population, these three scanners connected to this research initiative will provide access to the entire population of South Carolina in advancing research that will directly impact economic development, creation of new jobs, and the ‘transfer of knowledge’ to physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.”

By working together, USC, MUSC, Palmetto Health and Greenville Hospital System can use brain imaging to address real challenges and have a direct affect on the health status of all South Carolinians,” Baylis added.

About Health Sciences South Carolina

Established in April 2004 by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), the University of South Carolina (USC), Greenville Hospital System and Palmetto Health, Health Sciences South Carolina—the “Collaborative”—was founded with the vision of improving the health and economic wellbeing of South Carolina through a coordinated effort to advance health sciences education and research. The Collaborative is an inclusive public-private partnership that seeks to bring together universities, health systems, and other partners committed to the vision of using health science education and research to drive economic growth and improve the health status of South Carolinians.

USC researchers report $347 million economic impact from state's public libraries
--78 percent said the library contributed to success of their business

For every dollar spent on South Carolina's public libraries, the state receives $4.48 -- a return on investment of 350 percent for a total economic impact of $347 million -- according to a study by the USC's School of Library and Information Science.

Dr. Daniel D. Barron, director of the school and one of the faculty researchers who worked on the study, says USC collaborated with the South Carolina Association of Public Library Administrators to conduct a perception survey among public library users in each of the state's 46 counties. The study comprises that data, as well as an economic-impact analysis of the value of public libraries to the state.

"The economic value, both direct and indirect, of public libraries in South Carolina is tremendous," Barron said. "The state spends approximately $77.5 million on public libraries each year and receives a direct economic impact of $222 million and an additional gain of $125 million from indirect expenditures such as wages, supplies, books and construction."

The USC research team, which also included Drs. Bob Williams and Stephen Bajjaly, targeted four specific library user groups for the perception portion of the study: business community members, job seekers, personal investors and general adult users. The business component is particularly interesting, Barron says.

"The survey results show that public libraries are a primary source for people to gather information for small business, personal investment and job searches," said Barron. "A significant 78 percent of those surveyed said the library contributed to the success of their business, and nearly the same reported that not getting information from the library would have had a negative impact on their business."

Business owners reported saving up to $5,000 by getting information from the library. This includes economic data and government regulations, legal and technical information, as well as information on sales, marketing and management.

"Higher savings, higher productivity and greater success were reported across the board among the business-related users of the library," said Barron. "These findings also suggest a real potential for building on that success by attracting new business users."

He also says it will be a valuable tool to faculty in USC's School of Library and Information Science. "As researchers and educators, this provides us with a better understanding of the economic role of public libraries in South Carolina and their importance to citizens who use them as we prepare our graduates to work in the library field," he said.

ROLE OF RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES IN TRANSFORMING SOUTH CAROLINA'S ECONOMY

In the early years of our republic, South Carolina’s dominance in trade through the Charleston seaport complemented by rich agricultural resources augured well for its future. The abundant crops of rice plantations, cotton fields, and tobacco farms generated substantial wealth. Although the economy was devastated in the years after the Civil War, the industrial revolution brought textile mills, providing another boon to the Carolinas. Early in the twentieth century enormous farms and hunting lodges with vast acreage drew many wealthy outsiders to this state. As they began telling their friends about the phenomenal beauty and pristine character of this state—from the marshlands and beaches of the low country to the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains in the upstate, and the richly varied topography in between—tourists eventually came in droves, boosting the hospitality industry.

Today many South Carolinians reflect upon the richly varied commerce of the past four centuries with pride, and speak in glowing terms of perpetuating the traditions of those who laid the groundwork for the twenty-first century. While I appreciate that rich history and respect that heritage, I am deeply troubled by the general failure in the past several decades to adapt our industries to the knowledge revolution that has stimulated so much of our nation’s unparalleled economic growth.

Admittedly there are exceptions here and there, such as selected areas along the I-85 corridor. But those efforts pale in comparison to other parts of the country. Since the 1960s and 1970s, regions such as the Silicon Valley in California, the Route 128 corridor around Boston, and the Research Triangle in our neighboring state of North Carolina have demonstrated clearly how the knowledge revolution can dramatically affect economies far beyond the boundaries of their respective communities. Because the transformation of regional economies is based on emerging scientific discoveries and constantly evolving technologies, these pockets of innovation and economic robustness cannot afford to rest on their laurels, and thus continually redefine themselves.

We are at a critical juncture in South Carolina’s history, but we have much further to go than these nationally recognized regions because we have been tardy in exploiting the knowledge revolution. A critical requisite in changing our business recruitment and job creation strategy is breaking the shackles of parochialism. Because of South Carolina’s comparatively small size and population of just over four million, which is less than metropolitan San Francisco or greater Boston, it’s imperative that we abandon the myopia fostered by the institutional pride that prevents us from reaching out to sister institutions, and start creating big dreams.

We mustn’t let our small population and relatively modest economy prevent us from transcending political and institutional boundaries and thinking big. Indeed, in his provocative book entitled As the Future Catches You, Harvard professor Juan Enriquez bluntly observed: “The future belongs to small populations who build empires of the mind.” If we are to construct a public-private partnership-driven empire of the mind, it is absolutely essential that our horizons not be restricted to the Midlands, or the Pee Dee, or the Upstate, or the Lowcountry, or equally tellingly to the boundaries of our respective institutions. We need to start thinking of our entire state and all our research universities as integral to a region, and construct an economic empire of the mind.

The South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative, a study recently commissioned by major stakeholders in our state’s economy, contends that we can no longer compete effectively on the basis of being a low-cost place to do business. In a word, South Carolina must shift its focus from low cost to high quality. If we wish to experience the kind of economic development of which we are capable, we must be much more aggressive and imaginative in cultivating the unending stream of intellectual property from our research universities.

Our strategy to modify this state’s economic development has two thrusts. First, we must cultivate the talent we already have. By harnessing South Carolina-based innovation and brain power, our leading-edge faculty researchers will spawn new technologies that local companies can then commercialize, thus creating new jobs through this public-private partnership.

Because we’re in Charleston, I’ll draw on the collaboration between Carolina and MUSC in giving just four examples of implementing this “home-grown” strategy. First, trustees from Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina met late last year and approved a national search for an executive dean to lead both USC’s and MUSC’s pharmacy programs as we create the new, completely integrated South Carolina College of Pharmacy. That search is currently underway, and we expect to announce the appointment of that executive dean before the end of this calendar year. The integration of these two faculties will enable us to achieve substantially greater synergies in research and economies of scale in teaching than if we functioned independently of one another.

A second example is this: the USC Board of Trustees recently approved unanimously a resolution to integrate fully the research foundations from each of our institutions. That resolution will be presented to the MUSC Board of Trustees at their very next meeting. Here again, we can simultaneously achieve far greater scholarly productivity through the synergy achieved in collaboration that transcends institutional and disciplinary boundaries than if we persist in our separate pursuits. To illustrate the impact of this integration, the external research funding from MUSC and Carolina, when combined, exceeds that of such eminent, nationally recognized and generously endowed private universities as the University of Chicago and nearby Emory University.

The third example of employing this “home-grown” strategy is the process of integrating the South Carolina Cancer Center in Columbia and the Greenville Hospital Cancer Center with MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston. We believe this fully integrated program will enhance considerably our ability to have this new collective entity designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive Cancer Research Center.
A fourth example of the synergies achieved through our exciting collaboration with MUSC will be the dramatic expansion of education programs in graduate and health professions, such as pharmacy and medicine. Instead of limiting our instructional activities to our respective campuses in Columbia and Charleston, we will be launching a wide array of education programs in the Upstate, in which Greenville Technical College will be an integral partner.

All these initiatives feed into the emergence of a health sciences research and education cluster that will parallel the International Center for Automotive Research based on Clemson’s liaison with BMW. Irrespective of whether the lead for these respective public-private partnerships comes from Clemson or MUSC or Carolina, they are all directly responsive to the recommendation of the Competitiveness Initiative to organize our state’s economy toward specifically targeted clusters.

The second thrust of our strategy to modify our state’s economic development is this: as we work with other institutions within our state’s boundaries—whether research universities or technical colleges—we must simultaneously attract and retain a critical mass of forward-thinking, knowledge-based companies and scientists from across the nation and around the world. I am deeply indebted to you leaders in the business community, as well as those in the General Assembly, for your far-sighted vision in establishing the Endowed Chairs Program through which the General Assembly provides $30 million per year dedicated to Centers of Excellence at Carolina, Clemson and MUSC.

As evident in the recently announced Health Sciences South Carolina initiative linking the Palmetto Richland Health System, the Greenville Hospital System, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Carolina, we have launched unprecedented collaboration to bring these four institutions closer together and thus effect synergies enabling us to accomplish goals in the field of health care delivery and biomedical scholarship we simply could not achieve independently.
 

To the best of my knowledge, there is no other state in our entire nation that has more than one medical school that can make the following statement: 100% of our medical schools and 100% of our university-affiliated teaching hospitals are working with complete harmony as integral members of one 501(c) (3) corporation, with a common mission, one set of fully shared goals, and a coherent strategy to achieve those goals.

Together, we will invest $80 million over the next 10 years. The dollar-for-dollar match from the state’s Centers of Excellence Program creates a total of $160 million for Carolina and MUSC—a minimum of $16 million per year enabling us to recruit scientists who will equal the best anywhere. They, in turn, will attract private companies around the globe to South Carolina that are interested in tapping into our collective scientific horsepower to drive their own growth.

As we launch these ambitious agenda, our state’s three research universities—Carolina, Clemson, and MUSC--must dip deeper into the innovation stream, and—to extend the metaphor—build bridges between our educational programs and technological innovations on one shore, and across that stream to what knowledge-driven businesses need. The timing of our expanding research enterprise could not be better. Private companies are cutting back on research and development done in-house, and are looking for other sources of innovation and breakthrough developments.

As those of us in the public sector join forces with those of you in the private sector, we can create an environment rife with economic activity that makes the Palmetto State a place where the brightest and best want to live; a place where people are talking about great school systems, terrific universities and meaningful career opportunities; and a place where responsible government is working hand in hand with its taxpayers to preserve our remarkable natural resources for future generations. However, we will be highly successful only if, in concert with our sister institutions, we are able to serve as a driving force in shaping South Carolina for the twenty-first century.

The development of our research campus, the increased collaboration among our three research universities, the creation of the four-institution Health Sciences South Carolina initiative, and the impact of the South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative: all these are watershed events for us. We now have a road map to guide us in making changes that will bring true prosperity to our state. Only one question remains: Are South Carolinians ready to embrace this new model of economic development? If we are all committed to making these changes in a unified fashion, we will not fail.

Quite frankly, however, success will not occur without a long-term commitment from government, business, and education. As pointed out by Harvard Professor Michael Porter, who served as the principal consultant to the Competitiveness Initiative, the race we are in is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.

The momentum required to sustain the initiatives I have described will be achieved only if all of us are dedicated sincerely to the synergy of purpose that commitment to coherence will yield. If we embark on this mission with compatible goals and harmonious aims, and if we are undaunted in pursuing such collaboration, the whole will truly be greater than the sum of its parts. The challenge before us is monumental, and in several respects our near term prospects are formidable. To borrow a theme from Jim Collins’ best-selling book, we need a “good-to-great transformation.” But Collins warns that such transformations “never happened in one fell swoop. Like pushing on a giant, heavy fly wheel, it takes a lot of effort to get the thing moving at all, but with persistent pushing in a consistent direction over a long period of time, the fly wheel builds momentum eventually hitting a point of breakthrough.”

I truly believe that if we find ways to coordinate our resources to elevate the quality of research and teaching in all South Carolina institutions of higher education, and at the same time invest in the high tech and knowledge revolution industries that are capable of transforming the economy of this state, we shall move from good-to-great as we build an empire of the mind, and in the process accomplish far more than if we work in splendid isolation from one another, or if we persist in pouring new wine in old bottles. I pray that you will join me as we usher in a new day for South Carolina.

--Andrew A. Sorensen, president, University of South Carolina 

S.C. HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION GIFTS COLLEGE OF NURSING

The University of South Carolina College of Nursing has received a $100,000 gift from the S.C. Health Care Association to establish an undergraduate nursing scholarship program at a time when nursing shortages are causing concerns throughout the state and nation.

The scholarship represents a true commitment by a major healthcare organization to address the critical nursing shortage in South Carolina and to educate the next generation of nurses for the Palmetto State, said Dr. Mary Ann Parsons, dean of USC's College of Nursing.

"The S.C. Health Care Association is to be commended for taking the initiative to make nursing education possible for more students," Parsons said. "The association keenly understands the problems associated with the nursing shortage and has the vision to address the educational needs of our nursing students."

J. Randal Lee, for whom the scholarship is named, is president of the S.C. Health Care Association. He said the group had looked at how it could be "part of the solution" for the nursing shortage.

"Long-term care facilities hire nurses at every level, from licensed practical nurses to registered nurses to nursing administrators," Lee said. "We recognized that it is important for young people to have nursing education available to them and for nurses to be able to go to school for advanced degrees. Education is critical in this field, and we decided that a scholarship program would be the best way to be involved."
 

USC BREAKS GROUND ON RESEARCH CAMPUS

The University of South Carolina broke ground Wednesday (Dec. 15) on two buildings for its research campus, marking an expansion westward toward the Congaree River that is expected to revitalize the economic and social dynamics of the city and the region.

The four-acre site, which will be called Horizon Center, is bordered by South Main, Assembly, Blossom and Wheat streets. One building will be owned by USC and mainly house university researchers; the other will be owned by Craig Davis Properties Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., the developer of the research campus, and will contain a mix of university researchers and private partners.

USC President Andrew Sorensen told university and business leaders that the research campus not only will be a powerful engine for creating jobs and raising income, but also become an exemplary model for how public and private partnerships can transform the economic and social dynamics of Columbia, the state and the Southeast.

"We truly see this as the first step in the creation of a dynamic, vibrant, intellectual ecosystem, intertwined with the city, consisting of research labs, office space, mixed-use retail, recreation areas and affordable housing that becomes a center for innovation and job creation, as well as cultural and social interaction," Sorensen said.

The USC building will house university researchers who are engaged in research with serious potential for commercialization. Carolina's four primary research themes are "next energy," or alternate energy sources such as hydrogen or fuel cells, biomedical sciences, nanotechnology and environmental sciences. The second building will be designated for business and commercial enterprises compatible with USC research. Each will comprise about 100,000 square feet of space when completed in late 2006.

Both buildings are part of a larger vision that encompasses 5 million square feet of research labs, residential, retail, entertainment and recreational facilities in a 56-acre area stretching from the historic Horseshoe to the Congaree River.

Officials broke ground for each building. Sorensen was joined by Dr. Harris Pastides, USC vice president for research and health sciences, for the USC building; Sorensen and Pastides participated in the second groundbreaking along with Davis and Midlands business and economic development leaders.

Wednesday's event was a significant milestone for the university and for Sorensen's presidency. Sorensen introduced his proposal for a research campus in February 2003. In October of that year, the university broke ground for a building on Assembly Street for the Arnold School of Public Health, which also will be part of the research campus when completed in fall 2005.

USC 2005 ECONOMIC FORECAST: 'SOLID ECONOMIC, INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH'

2005 should see solid economic, income and employment growth in South Carolina and the nation, according to a report released Dec. 13 at the 24th annual Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and The Palmetto Institute.

Both the state and national economies "should see a ratcheting-up of job growth" next year, with South Carolina expecting to see total job growth of about 1.6 percent for all of 2005, said Dr. Donald L. Schunk, research economist in the business school's Division of Research.

He said there are several key issues to watch in 2005, including energy prices, the impact of rising interest rates, the weak dollar and the federal government's rising budget deficit. "We don't know exactly how these things will play out."

But Schunk forecasts that energy prices will probably remain high next year by historical standards, although "not to the extent that economic growth will be significantly trimmed." Rising interest rates should "work to cool off residential construction," he said. And, the weak dollar probably will continue to boost domestic exporters in 2005, helping U.S. manufacturing output and employment, although there should be "some correction working to reverse these trends."

In South Carolina, prospects "look good for stronger employment growth, although still below the long-run average," Schunk said. But if total employment in the state increases by 1.6 percent between 2004 and 2005, as expected, total employment "finally will regain its pre-recession peak (from early 2000) at some point during the summer of 2005."

South Carolina's economy picked up momentum during the third quarter of 2004 and added jobs for the fifth straight quarter. In fact, the state has added a net 36,600 new jobs since bottoming out during the first quarter of 2002, Schunk said.

Schunk expects the strongest job growth to occur in the state's health services, wholesale trade, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality sectors. Manufacturing "likely will continue to see a net job loss," although Schunk said he believes this will involve job losses in non-durable goods being partially balanced by job gains in durable-goods manufacturing.

The recent announcement by Vought Aircraft Industries and Alenia of a large-scale location in North Charleston has the potential to be a "catalyst for a new and growing cluster in South Carolina, as did BMW's location in the Upstate in the early 1990s," Schunk said.

Last year at this time, Schunk's forecast called for South Carolina to post job growth of 0.8 percent during 2004. Currently, it looks as though the state will see jobs increase by 1.1 percent during all of 2004, he said. Similarly, "our initial forecast for real [national] Gross Domestic Product growth during 2004 was 4.4 percent; it currently looks as though real GDP will grow 4.5 percent in 2004."

South Carolina's communities at a glance in 2005

DARLA MOORE TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT ECONOMIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE DEC. 13

Darla Moore, founder of The Palmetto Institute, will deliver the keynote address at the University of South Carolina's 24th annual Economic Outlook Conference Monday, Dec. 13, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street.

The conference will build on the study presented by Harvard Professor Michael Porter at the 2003 Economic Outlook Conference. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with presentations by Moore School of Business research economists on the 2005 economic forecast for the state and the nation and an overview of the state's long-term competitiveness prospects. The conference also will feature a panel discussion led by South Carolina business leaders on what is being done to make the state's economy more competitive. Panelists will explain the ongoing initiatives of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, which was formed a year ago to craft an economic development strategy for the state. M. Edward Sellers, chairman and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina, will moderate.

Moore, a partner in Rainwater Inc. and a graduate of USC, will speak at the luncheon, set for 12:30 pm. She will talk about private and public initiatives to improve South Carolina's economy since Porter recommended last year that the state pursue a cluster-based economic development strategy.

The cost to attend the conference, including the luncheon, is $75. Both are open to the public. For more information or to register, contact Nancy Beym at 800-393-2362 or via e-mail at nbeym@moore.sc.edu, or register online at http://learnmoore.com.

Click here to go to the EOC page

MIDLANDS COMPANY LICENSES USC-DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY

The University of South Carolina has signed an agreement with a local software development company to develop, market and sell a software program expected to significantly improve the process of designing ships and other complex structures.

Developed by a team of students and faculty led by electrical engineering professors Dr. Roger Dougal and Dr. Antonello Monti, the software is the fourth USC research initiative to be licensed to a Midlands company and the 10th in the last six months, Dr. Harris Pastides, USC vice president for research and health sciences, said Thursday (Dec. 2).

"This agreement is particularly significant because it has the potential to create high-tech jobs in the Midlands," Pastides said. "It is an excellent example of how research at the university spawns innovation, commercialization and economic development."

The program, which has applications for the ship, automotive and aerospace industries, is a simulation package that enables engineers in a variety of disciplines to design and simulate complex systems cooperatively on a computer.

"This program will enable engineers, architects, systems designers and others to bring computer data to life," said Chris King, president of IDV and a graduate of USC with a bachelor's and a master's degree in engineering. "Ship design for the Navy is incredibly complicated because so many systems -- energy generation, propulsion, living quarters and air conditioning -- are packed into a relatively compact space. If even one aspect of a ship's blueprint is changed, the entire design or significant portions of the design may have to be altered."

The program would show what systems would require changes and also can highlight the specific ship systems that would be affected in a crisis, such as a torpedo strike, giving military commanders an idea of how the ship would respond in an emergency.

Dougal and his team were funded with multi-million-dollar grants from the U.S. Department of Defense. The software is the result of research that Dougal and his team have conducted for the U.S. Navy. Known as the Virtual Test Bed project, it focuses on interdisciplinary simulation and visualization of modern power distribution systems, especially isolated or mobile power systems.

Pastides said that as the university builds its research campus and hires more research faculty for its research priorities, Carolina will collaborate even more with high-tech companies to commercialize innovative research that has commercial applications.

Other Midlands companies that USC has licensing agreements with are Opton Technologies LLC, Correlated Solutions and R & H Associates.

New opportunities for small businesses

South Carolina EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) identifies, develops, and uses the academic science and the technology resources at Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina to support economic growth by increasing the state’s research and development competitiveness in the federal and private sectors.

New opportunities for small businesses are available until March 1, 2005, from the SC EPSCoR and its IDeA (Institutional Development Awards) program.

South Carolina's “Phase 0” program provides small businesses with seed investments to foster competitive federal research and development proposal submissions. Seed grants (maximum of $4,000 each) are available to small businesses seeking (1) Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) support or (2) federal partnerships, contracts, and grants for innovative research concepts. Proposals will be accepted while funds remain available for support.

For more information visit http://www.scepscor.org/news/newsletter/home.asp. 

InnoVenture 2005

InnoVenture 2005 (April 6-7 in Greenville, SC) will focus on “Southeastern Innovations With Global Impact.” Conference sponsors are currently being sought. More than the 200 participants (major corporate and academic leaders seeking to commercialize innovations, well-connected community leaders seeking to grow their small businesses, high-impact companies raising capital to create wealth and high wage jobs) attended the 2004 conference. Sponsorship packages are available to fit a variety of budgets. In addition, there are opportunities to name specific aspects of the InnoVenture for greater impact. For more information, E-mail or call Barry Newkirk at BNEWKIRK@ICAPSOLUTIONS.NET or 864-292-4227 Ext. 23.

ENTREPRENEURS ON THE FAST TRAC

Nine weeks of Fast Trac sessions are underway for entrepreneurs interested in learning how to commercialize ideas, market a new business, price products and services, and develop budgets. Classes meet at Midlands Tech on successive Mondays, 6-9 pm. Co-sponsored by USC businessLINK, the South Carolina Technology Alliance, and EngenuitySC this “hands-on” program will help you take charge of your business. For more information, contact Connie Hill at 803-732-5213 or hillc@midlandstech.edu 

NEW DOWNTOWN SITE FOR USC COLUMBIA TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and USC President Andrew Sorensen have signed an agreement allowing the University to lease the former City Hall annex building at 1225 Laurel Street for the USC Columbia Technology Incubator.

“I want to compliment the City for recognizing the value in this nontraditional economic development approach and thank our officials for assisting us in moving our program forward with this critical step,” said Incubator Director Joel Stevenson. “During the past five years we’ve helped create nearly 300 jobs and graduated 12 companies. Eleven of those remain in business, and ten are located here in the Midlands. All of that was achieved through word of mouth referrals. But now that we have our own building, we’ll be able to fully advertise our capabilities to the public and increase the number of high paying, high impact jobs we can create.”

Stevenson said that the new location’s proximity to the University of South Carolina is important to further growth. “We’re moving 15 companies to 1225 Laurel Street and it’s important that our students, faculty, and staff be able to get to our new facility easily, and quickly.”

 $2.1 MILLION DOE GRANT AWARDED COEIT DEAN

University of South Carolina Dean Ralph White will receive a $2.1 million 18-month grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop better ways to produce and store hydrogen fuel cells. He will work with researchers from South Carolina State University, the Savannah River National Lab and energy department officials in Washington. "This is an urgent area of research for our state and national economy, particularly given the continued rise of fuel costs," said White, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology.

  USC “GREATEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL AVAILABLE TO US”
Business assistance reflects strengthened town-gown partnership

In the August 15, 2004 issue of Downtown Idea Exchange, City of Columbia Economic Development Director Jim Gambrell discusses how the capital city (pop. 116,300) is partnering with the University of South Carolina (USC) to tap the downtown university’s wealth of knowledge and intellect as an economic development asset:

Through a service known as USC businessLINK, staffed by an individual under the university’s economic development department, the city’s economic development staff and business people in the community and state have an accessible point of contact to receive information or assistance from USC faculty and researchers.

“Through USC businessLINK, companies can get research [to assist their] business plans, marketing, legal issues, and patent issues. It’s opened up a whole new group of assets to companies, and the city, quite frankly, can use that,” say Gambrell. “The University of South Carolina is perhaps the greatest economic development tool that we have available to us to use to attract businesses and [nurture] the growth of businesses in our market.”

That’s especially true for technology businesses, and businesses that use technology to either manufacture, sell, or promote. USC businessLINK connects the university’s USC Small Business Development Center, Center for Manufacturing and Technology, USC Columbia Technology Incubator, Industry Contracts Unit, and Intellectual Property Office.

The USC businessLINK office is located inside the city’s Office of Economic Development. Sharing office space “brings to a higher level of consciousness the fact that they’re there, and that they have a lot of tools that we can use to help us.” Gambrell says. For example, USC businessLINK can help the city when it is trying to attract a new company. The city and university are also exploring the possibility of the school managing the city’s grants.

“We can call on them, and they can put us in touch with the academic or research area that this new company might have an interest in partnering with when they get here, to help them achieve some of their goals,” says Gambrell.

In addition to its primary mission of education and research, Gambrell says, the state university’s role includes a responsibility to serve the community. “Downtown is a community, not just an isolated area where people come, do their things, and leave. It’s a community that contributes to the greater community, and the university also plays a major role in complementing the greater community, providing services as a natural extension of what they’re doing within the bounds of their traditional role as a university.”

Partnerships between downtowns and universities of this sort, Gambrell says from experience, “have to be a top-down policy,” starting with the president of the university.

“It’s very difficult in a city or in a university to have bottom-up influence,” he says. “It’s much easier when you’ve got the head man committed to what you’re trying to do.”

Contact: Jim Gambrell, director of economic development, City of Columbia, SC,
(803) 734-2700, jgambrell@columbiasc.net; or
USC businessLINK at (866) 756-2883, www.uscbusinesslink.com 

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