focus areas...

Developing a knowledge-based economy requires focus and continuous interaction between local institutions of higher education, research centers, the entrepreneurial community, and groups managing investment capital. Together, these groups must build an operating foundation that can be applied across specific areas of technological focus. Three fundamental components make up the foundation: discovery, development and deployment. Each of these operating tenants requires the engagement of unique assets from the community. The investment in basic and applied research that successfully generates intellectual property will drive the discovery phase. Economic and business support to transition the technology is critical in the development stage. Widespread support from every sector of the community is important in the deployment stage to ensure the successful commercialization of the technology and the creation of companies and jobs that will ultimately lead to a thriving technology-based cluster

The identification of those technologies that will drive the future and which leverage existing assets is key. The first of these to be recognized is the opportunity presented by the hydrogen economy and more specifically hydrogen fuel cells. The result is the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge a collaborative effort between EngenuitySC, USC, the City of Columbia and the South Carolina Research Authority.

In addition, growth areas such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and environmental sciences, just to name a few, are being examined to determine whether they align strategically with the vision and assets of the community.