In 2005, business, higher education, national laboratory and community leaders from across the state came together to develop a 20-year strategy to enable South Carolina to become a leader in the emerging hydrogen and fuel cell economy. During this process, careful examination of our exising resources revealed that we were in a unique position to play a role in this burgeoning industry. The University of South Carolina, the City of Columbia, EngenuitySC, and the South Carolina Research Authority then created the Fuel Cell Collaborative to leverage the Midlands region's cleantech assets. The collaborative has already attracted top fuel cell scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. It has assisted in the creation of start-ups such as Trulite, inc, Boroscience International, and Hydrogen Hybrid Mobility. This region has attracted the profound minds of Dr. Ken Reifsnider, who specializes in Solide Oxide Fuel Cells, Dr. Brian Benicewicz, who specializes in Polymer Nanocomposites at the USC Nanocenter; and a host of other leading researchers in fields such as health sciences, nanotechnology, clean coal, and information technology. Our initiatives have been the genesis of the nation’s first NSF funded center for fuel cells, one of the first hydrogen fueling stations, a top tier fuel cell training facility at Midlands Technical College, and the first fuel cell manufacturing facility in the state.This was the first three years; now, imagine the next twenty. For more information about the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, visit the website here!