research and higher education...
Connecting Research Activities of the University of South Carolina and other Institutions of Higher Education to the Business Community
Research universities are constantly developing new inventions, processes and other intellectual property that have commercially attractive real world applications. Entrepreneurs with access to these "innovations" can form companies that carry these inventions and processes to the marketplace. Typically, such companies provide knowledge-oriented jobs, have strong growth potential, and tend to remain in the city in which they are formed. As they mature, these new-economy companies continue their interaction with the university research community commercializing more new innovations and spinning off more similar companies.
A critical component of this process is creating the requisite interaction between researchers and entrepreneurs. One of EngenuitySC's primary focus areas is to guide activities that will connect the local business community to research activities at the University of South Carolina to create new companies to commercialize innovations. A major component of this effort is the development of Innovista, the university's new innovation district that creates a unique urban environment where living and learning are seamlessly integrated. In addition, legislation such as the endowed chairs program, the life sciences act, and the research universities infrastructure act, help to create an environment that fosters breakthrough research.
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