GSA Technology Council

The Clemson Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering a workshop aimed start up and small businesses on March 16th.
“JumpStart Your Business, Tips for Start Up Success” will explore the basics of what it takes to get into business. Topics include how to set-up a business, forms of business organization, an overview of financial statements, general legal requirements, the elements of an effective business plan, financing options, and how to improve the odds of success. This practical program is designed to help you ask the right questions and find the most important information to make informed business decisions. Pre-registration is required. Call 864.370.1545
OR EMAIL SBOSTIC@CLEMSON.EDU

WHEN
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010; 6:30 – 8:00 pm

WHERE
Clemson at the Falls
55 East Camperdown Way, Greenville
Classroom 1A

INVESTMENT
$25

via: Clemson Small Business Development Center

Clemson University and the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) are scheduled to begin construction in mid-March on the approximately 43,000 square-foot innovation center complex in Anderson County to support the state’s growing advanced materials industry. Harper Corporation of Greenville is the design/build contractor on the project, with Goodwyn Mills and Cawood, Inc., serving as architect of record.

Clemson’s innovation center will occupy approximately 25,000 square feet and be dedicated to supporting tenants interested in growing start-up companies or “landing parties” associated with Clemson research, especially in advanced materials. SCRA will house secure research in approximately 18,000 square feet, with the remaining square footage devoted to a common area and collaboration space.

The facility will be adjacent to the Clemson University Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, where Clemson offers some of the nation’s top research facilities in optical materials/photonics and electron microscopy and houses cutting-edge research programs.

Chris Przirembel, Clemson’s vice president for research and economic development, said the facility will complete the ‘innovation chain’ that links academic research to the marketplace — and jobs.

“The knowledge generated by faculty and students is not intended to remain within the confines of the university,” Przirembel said. “Providing office and laboratory space for fledgling companies that want to start businesses and create jobs based on university discoveries is an exciting prospect. We look forward to creating an environment that nurtures new business for South Carolina, particularly in advanced materials where we know there is great opportunity for growth.”

Przirembel noted that Innovate Anderson, a public-private economic development organization formed by Anderson County, the City of Anderson, Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce and private businesses, is a critical partner in the development of the Advanced Materials Center, having purchased the remaining undeveloped property in the research campus to attract private development to Anderson County.

Bill Mahoney, SCRA’s chief executive officer, said the facility is specially designed for commercialization of advanced materials by start-up companies with intellectual property primarily coming out of Clemson University.

“This is one of three world-class facilities that SCRA is providing with its university partners in South Carolina to grow the knowledge economy,” said Mahoney. “With these centers, SCRA is fulfilling legislative mandates identified in the Innovation Centers Act focused on commercialization of new knowledge-based discoveries, using SCRA company-retained earnings instead of state taxpayer money.”

The innovation center complex was funded through a public-private partnership that includes Advance SC, the Duke Energy Foundation, federal agencies and South Carolina Research Infrastructure Act funds, in addition to Clemson and SCRA. Construction is expected to be complete by early 2011.

via: Clemson University

Investments by C. Tycho Howle of Atlanta and an anonymous private sector partner, along with a state match, total $4 million to support an endowed chair position in the Cyber-Institute Center of Economic Excellence (CoEE) at Clemson University.

The center’s primary focus will be to develop novel software-based approaches and new computational capabilities to solve complex societal issues and meet complex human and business needs. The endowed chair holder will be the academic leader of the center and hold the title “hf Flagship Endowed Chair in Human Centered Computing in the Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.” Human-centered computing is an emerging field focused on making computational technologies more usable and how computational technologies affect society.

“The holder of the endowed chair in human-centered computing will be a catalyst for bringing together an interdisciplinary research team involving a wide range of computing applications in engineering, physics, biology, psychology, sociology and many other fields,” said Holcombe Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Chair Darren Dawson. “This multidisciplinary team will develop software-based approaches and computational capabilities to build new tools and methods to gain a better perspective on their research. For example, when a computer combines a map with the data from thousands of sensors measuring ocean currents and temperatures around the globe, a collection of numbers can become a stunning visualization that helps us understand shifting climate patterns. Likewise, a computer-generated visualization can help a surgeon better understand what is happening inside a patient’s heart before ever picking up a scalpel.”

“In order to solve many of today’s complex societal issues, we must be able to analyze and understand large amounts of data,” said James Bottum, Clemson’s chief information officer and principal investigator of the CoEE proposal. “To do this, we often require high performance computer systems, high bandwidth communication systems and innovative user interfaces for remote collaboration. So, the center also will focus on developing new capabilities for improving and expanding electronic collaboration.”

“This new center will facilitate research, education and workforce development and provide an environment for collaboration,” said Clemson President James F. Barker.

“These capabilities will allow Clemson researchers to tackle more complex problems and enhance our ability to support economic development in our state. We are grateful to the donors and the State of South Carolina for their vote of confidence in Clemson.”

Howle and the anonymous private sector partner each invested $1 million to support the research and infrastructure of the center, and that will be matched by the state for a $4 million total investment.

“I’ve had the privilege of an exciting career centered on harnessing the power of computing to make business processes faster, more accurate and more measurable,” said Howle. “But, we’ve only scratched the surface on making the interaction between humans and software more intuitive, informative, accessible and interactive. There is tremendous potential for transformative innovation in this area, and this $4 million investment will help Clemson stay on the forefront of important technology research. The hf Flagship Foundation is honored to support this endowment.”

Howle is founder and chairman of Atlanta-based nuBridges, Inc., a leading provider of software and managed services that help businesses protect and exchange sensitive data in compliance with increasingly tight compliance requirements. He is a long-time supporter of Clemson. Howle received a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in systems engineering — a degree program previously in the electrical and computer engineering department — from Clemson University in 1971. He also holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. A native of Lancaster, he and his wife, Marie, reside in Atlanta.

The South Carolina General Assembly established the Centers of Economic Excellence Program (http://www.sccoee.org/) in 2002, and it is funded through South Carolina Education Lottery proceeds. The legislation authorizes the state’s three public research institutions to use state funds to create Centers of Economic Excellence in research areas that will advance South Carolina’s economy. The state funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar by private investment in the program. The program also supports CoEE endowed chairs, world-renowned scientists who lead the Centers of Economic Excellence.

The Centers of Economic Excellence program has created 12 Centers of Economic Excellence supporting 15 endowed chairs at Clemson to take advantage of the university’s faculty expertise and research strengths. This state program awarded the Cyber-Institute Center of Economic Excellence at Clemson in 2008 with $2 million to be matched in private funds.

via: Clemson University

Clemson University researchers have developed a hands-free alternative to cell phone texting while driving.

“If you can’t keep people from doing it, make it safer,” said Juan Gilbert, professor and chairman of the human-centered computing division of Clemson’s School of Computing.

He said one problem with banning texting while driving is that people are likely to continue doing it. He said it will be difficult for police to enforce a ban unless they actually see someone in the act. Gilbert said evidence of texting while driving often surfaces only after an accident.

Gilbert’s team developed an application, called VoiceTEXT, that allows drivers to speak text messages and keep their eyes on the road at the same time. Drivers using VoiceTEXT put their cell phones in Bluetooth mode and connect it to their car.

via: Clemson University

“Through the car’s speaker system or through the driver’s own Bluetooth headset, drivers can give a voice command that delivers a text message,” Gilbert said. “So you can speak to your phone and tell it to send a message to an individual. The recipient’s phone recognizes the voice as a text message and the other person is able to respond appropriately.”

Gilbert and his researchers are conducting a survey on the use of VoiceTEXT at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DC6S5X7. The survey opens with a video demonstration of VoiceTEXT, followed by three multiple-choice questions and space for comments.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve driver distraction. Cell phone use is among the reasons for driver distraction, the agency says.

Aspiring Upstate entrepreneurs have an exciting resource to help them prepare for launching a new business. The Clemson University Small Business Development Center is excited to announce enhancements to an interactive workshop to provide information needed before taking the plunge. “JumpStart Your Business, Tips for Start Up Success” will explore the basics of what it takes to get into business. Topics include how to set-up a business, forms of business organization, an overview of financial statements, general legal requirements, the elements of an effective business plan, financing options, and how to improve the odds of success. This practical program is designed to help you ask the right questions and find the most important information to make informed business decisions. Pre-registration is required. Call 864.370.1545
OR EMAIL SBOSTIC@CLEMSON.EDU

WHEN
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010; 6:30 – 8:00 pm

WHERE
Clemson at the Falls
55 East Camperdown Way, Greenville
Classroom 1A

INVESTMENT
$25

via: Clemson

The Clemson Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is pleased to sponsor a class on learning the basics of the most popular financial software on the market. This hands-on QuickBooks program is designed for those with basic computer skills who want to know what is really necessary to make their business financial operations run more efficiently. The program is presented using 2009 software, by a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor with substantial experience in small business financial management. Class size is limited for optimal instruction, and all attendees receive workbooks and material from Quickbooks.

Pre-registration with payment is required.

WHEN
Feb 23rd & 25th , 2010 (2-Part Class) 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

WHERE
Small Business Development Center Training Room, 55 East Camperdown Way, Greenville

INVESTMENT
$225 for class only or $275 for class and an individual one-on-one consultation;
Workbook included.

To Register, Call 864.370.1545

via: Clemson

Clemson University President James F. Barker has established a President’s Commission on Sustainability that is charged with creating and implementing a plan to make the university carbon neutral.

As a signatory to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, Clemson has pledged to reduce carbon emissions and to incorporate sustainability into its curriculum for all students. The new commission is charged with creating an action plan to achieve those goals.

The commission is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff representatives from various colleges and departments and representatives from Clemson’s Public Service Activities arm. The commission is chaired by Ben Sill, emeritus Alumni Professor of Civil Engineering.

“It is important to do everything we can on campus to reduce carbon emissions because that is just part of being a good citizen,” Sill said.

Sill said the commission will look at quick, short-term solutions, such as replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient lighting, as well as long-term plans, such as seeking green energy sources and enhancing green building practices.

Sill said getting sustainability into the classroom is just as important as reducing carbon emissions.

“We need to reach every student so that we are training future leaders on how to make the world better,” he said. “By teaching sustainability, our students will have a healthy regard for the future of our planet.”

via: Clemson University

Pickens County Administration and Clemson University’s Institute for Economic and Community Development will be offering FastTrac at the Hampton Memorial Library in Easley. FastTrac is a practical, hands-on learning program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage, and grow a successful business. FastTrac participants don’t just learn about business, they live it. They work on their own business ideas or existing ventures throughout the program.

FastTrac is a framework for entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs. Programs combine facilitator-led sessions, small-group exercises, guest subject-matter experts, and idea sharing with peers with business coaching and mentoring. Entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and/or grow successful businesses. FastTrac is supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, the largest foundation fostering entrepreneurship in the nation. Experienced entrepreneurs present the programs and guest speakers supplement their knowledge.

“In addition to the top-notch knowledge provided by the FastTrac program, participants work shoulder-to-shoulder with other entrepreneurs, creating a valuable peer network,” said Will Culler, Research Associate with Clemson University. “This interaction with peers and experienced entrepreneurs provides FastTrac participants a level of knowledge and support they could never get from a book or software.”

Those interested in participating in this program may sign up by visiting FastTracSC.org, calling 803-699-3179 or emailing: wculler@clemson.edu.

via: Fast Trac

Aspiring Upstate entrepreneurs have an exciting resource to help them prepare for launching a new business. The Clemson University Small Business Development Center is excited to announce enhancements to an interactive workshop to provide information needed before taking the plunge. “JumpStart Your Business, Tips for Start Up Success” will explore the basics of what it takes to get into business. Topics include how to set-up a business, forms of business organization, an overview of financial statements, general legal requirements, the elements of an effective business plan, financing options, and how to improve the odds of success. This practical program is designed to help you ask the right questions and find the most important information to make informed business decisions. Pre-registration is required.

Call 864.370.1545 OR
EMAIL SBOSTIC@CLEMSON.EDU
WHEN Thursday, January 28th, 2010; 6:30 – 8:00 pm
WHERE University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville
INVESTMENT $25

The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operates in partnership and is partially funded under a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The support given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the cosponsor(s) or participants’ opinions, products or services. All SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and available to individuals with disabilities.

Directions:
University Center at McAlister Square in Greenville, SC

via: Clemson University

Varun Grover, the William S. Lee Professor in the management department at Clemson University, is ranked third among the top 200 most-influential researchers in the world in a study published in the Journal of the Association of Information Systems, the flagship research journal of the Association for Information Systems.

“Dr. Grover is an inspirational and a model colleague in our department,” said management department chairman Sri Sridharan. “His influence on our doctoral students and their research quality and productivity continues to lead to major recognition from the international community.”

Grover came to Clemson in 2002 from the University of South Carolina. He has published extensively in the information systems field, with more than 150 publications in refereed journals. In April 2009, Grover was ranked fourth among 3,404 published information systems researchers in the world based on the number of publications in the top six information systems journals. However, the current study is based on the impact his work has had on other researchers around the world.

“The management information systems program has become one of the college’s flagship academic initiatives,” said Claude Lilly, dean of the College of Business and Behavioral Science. “Compared to peer programs across the globe, our faculty and students have raised the bar in terms of research productivity and excellence.”

The study in the Journal of the Association of Information Systems examines the breadth, depth and persistence of a scholar’s impact. Grover also was recognized as one of seven “transnational elite” scholars who publish in both European and North American journals, and was ranked second and fourth, respectively, based on influence in these communities.

via: Clemson University