GSA Technology Council

SC Launch company,Ice Dragon Cooling was named one of the top five innovations at the International CES, a convention produced by the Consumer Electronics Association. The convention is the largest and most recognized electronic technology event in the world, and hosts thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees each year.

The company, based in Columbia, SC, offers an innovative product that cools electronics systems. The technology combines water, surfactants, and antimicrobial metallic nanoparticles to create a solution for improved cooling performance. This technology is the result of a joint research project of the University of South Carolina and the U.S. Air Force.

“SC Launch was established to support the growth of promising technology-based companies in South Carolina. Ice Dragon has proven to clearly fit this role,” said SC Launch Executive Director Dave McNamara.

“We are thrilled for Ice Dragon to receive this honor and recognition,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO.
“Ice Dragon’s achievement reflects the world-class science and technology commercialization results which are now consistently emerging from South Carolina.”
The Ice Dragon solution is estimated to reduce temperatures by up to 20% more efficiently than water. Liquid cooled systems can take advantage of cost savings as Ice Dragon is able to reduce pump and radiator fan velocities while maintaining a consistent temperature that is similar to water.

via: SC Launch

If you need to learn how to maximize the potential of a new technology then TechVenture, an award winning entrepreneurial program developed by the Kauffman Foundation, can show you how.

FastTrac TechVenture is 30 hours of instruction over 10 modules designed specifically for entrepreneurs in the fields of technology or life sciences. It focuses on the specific needs of these entrepreneurs, whose business ideas are based on:
• Developing and marketing technology.
• Developing technology that enables creation or enhancement of a non-technology business.
• Developing biotechnology and life sciences products or services.

Throughout the program, entrepreneurs will strengthen their ability to make critical decisions and equip themselves with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the performance of their potential or existing technology businesses. The primary objectives of the program are to enable them to accomplish the following:
• Effectively evaluate and improve their business concept.
• Express the business concept through an Elevator Pitch, a Business Plan, and an Investor Presentation.
• Build a valuable network of entrepreneurial peers and important mentor relationships.

WHERE/WHEN:
Aiken: May 20 -21, 2010 (Modules 1-3)
Charleston: June 17-18, 2010 (Modules 4-6)
Greenville: July 15-16, 2010 (Modules 7-9)
Columbia: August 19-20, 2010 (Module 10 with Graduation/Investor Presentations)

CLASS SCHEDULE:
Thursday 3pm—6pm
Study/Coaching Workshops 7pm-9pm (with Industry Specific Coaches)
Friday 9am—Noon and 1pm—3pm

COSTS:
Tuition: $595.00 (Retail Value is $895.00)
Hotel Room Rate: <$100.00 per night
All Meals Included

At the graduation ceremony on August 20, 2010, graduates will have an opportunity to pitch their technology business to potential investors (Venture Capitalists, Angels, Corporate R & D Representatives, and Others).

FastTracSC, an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, has a vision to create new jobs, new businesses and new wealth for South Carolinians. Through state funding, corporate donations and the assistance of the FastTracSC Coalition which includes South Carolina Universities, Technical Colleges and state/local organizations dedicated to assisting in the development of new businesses in South Carolina, FastTracSC has been able to provide entrepreneurial training throughout the state to residents at all levels of business development.
For more information on TechVenture and the other programs offered by FastTracSC, visit our website at www.FastTracSC.org or email Mary Dickerson at mdickerson@charlestonchamber.org.

via: FastTracSC

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

Individual and corporate tax payers can support the continued growth of a Knowledge Economy in South Carolina by making a contribution to the Industry Partnership Fund. This Fund was established in 2006 under the Industry Partners Act in order to sustain the SC Launch Program beyond SCRA’s initial investment of $12 million. Under this Act, a South Carolina taxpayer (individual or corporate) can receive a 100% credit against state income taxes, insurance premium taxes and/or certain license fees for contributions. Contributions to the Fund are accepted on a first come basis with the aggregate limit being $6,000,000.

All funds directly support the mission of the SC Launch program which is to assist with the commercialization of university research, finance start-up and spin-out companies, provide incubation and business services to companies and to execute the mandates in the Innovation Centers Act and the Industry Partners Act.

If you are interested in making a contribution for 2010 or have questions, contact SC Launch at 803-343-5311.

Your contributions support the growth of high-tech startups and South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy.

via: SC Launch

Immedion, LLC, a South Carolina based dedicated data center and managed services provider is opening a second data center in Columbia, SC. The second site further expands Immedion’s redundancy and disaster recover offerings and allows Immedion to better serve the managed hosting needs of more of South Carolina.

“Locating our second data center in the Innovation Center will better enable us to provide services to businesses in the Midlands as well as throughout the state of South Carolina. In addition, the provisioning of a second, geographically diverse location will allow Immedion to provide uptime for critical technology beyond the capabilities of any single data center location.”

Immedion’s Columbia site is located in the SCRA USC Innovation Center. The location, with easy access to the Columbia Statehouse, airport and University of South Carolina, is an ideal site. The building is adjacent to the USC Engineering School and is also within walking distance of Innovista, USC’s forward-looking campus for research and entrepreneurship.

Today’s announcement “helps expand a knowledge-based company,” SCRA chief executive Bill Mahoney said. “Immedion is the kind of company we are looking for.”

The Columbia site will offer the same services as the Greenville headquarters with the goal of helping customers meet all of their IT Space, Server Power, Disaster Recovery and Regulatory Compliance demands. Immedion’s outsourced data center services and solutions help organizations lower costs, maximize internal resources and keep valuable information technology safe 24×7x365.

via: Immedion

The South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the Greer Development Corporation today announced that American Truetzschler Inc. will expand its operations into Greenville County, as the result of the acquisition of the Hollingsworth company assets. The $3.5 million investment is expected to generate 30 new jobs.

“Our operations in Greer are an important part of our company’s total manufacturing capacity, and we are pleased to expand our production capabilities with a facility there. South Carolina will provide us with an excellent business environment and a skilled workforce to suit our needs. We are pleased to move forward with our operations in South Carolina’s Upstate,” said Detlef Jaekel, vice president of the Technical Division at American Truetzschler.

American Truetzschler Inc., a subsidiary of Trützschler Group, acquired production facilities and intellectual property last year from now-defunct John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels Inc. The company will use the acquired equipment in its new facility, and intends to continue the former company’s production program.

The company has also taken on former Hollingsworth employees, including those in field service and sales and marketing. The investment will allow the company to expand its textile machinery and card clothing manufacturing operations. American Truetzschler will immediately begin adding equipment to the facility, which is located at 1704 Poplar Drive Ext. in Greer.

“American Truetzschler is a major manufacturer of machinery for spinning preparation and nonwovens, and their investment in South Carolina enhances the state’s advanced manufacturing industry. Today’s announcement is also a positive indication that our state’s business-friendly climate, skilled workforce and strong market access are working to attract new investment and job opportunities. As the market rebounds, we believe that American Truetzschler’s acquisition of these operations will make the facilities stronger and better positioned for future growth. We congratulate American Truetzschler on their investment in South Carolina and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“American Truetzschler is a great company with international business connections,” said Butch Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council and GADC Board member. “Their decision to expand their operations in Greenville County is evidence that specialty textile manufacturing can thrive here. We’re proud to be able to help this company and others enjoy the benefits of doing business here.”

“We are truly grateful for the investment that American Truetzschler will make in our community and the new jobs they plan to create,” said Wryley Bettis, Greer City Councilman and Chairman of the Greer Development Corporation. “We believe that Greer is a special place, and we cannot imagine having a better partner than a company like American Truetzschler to help this community to continue to grow.”

The company is currently hiring for the positions. Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company should contact the company by phone at 704-399-4521, by fax at 704-3994525 or by mail at American Truetzschler Inc., Attn: Plant Manager, PO Box 669228, Charlotte, NC 28266.

via: American Truetzschler

FastTracSC, a coalition of agencies with a vision of creating new businesses, new jobs and new wealth for South Carolinians through the FastTrac® entrepreneurial training programs developed by the Kauffman Foundation celebrated their 1000th graduate at a luncheon on January 28, 2010. The celebration was held at the Lake House at the Sandhill Research and Education Center, Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development. The program included testimonials by members of the FastTracSC advisory committee, coalition members, facilitators and most importantly, graduates on how FastTracSC and the FastTrac programs have impacted their organizations or as individuals.

Especially noteworthy were the success stories of the FastTrac graduates which included: Aimee Talbot (EuroLux Antiques), Christal Deloach (The Media Hog), Eddie Picket (Quality Cleaning Janitor Services), Lloyd Richardson (Atlantic Materials Company of SC), Judith Moore (Charleston Cookie Company), Ron Washington (OMAN Tutoring and Mentoring), Dave Erwin, Jr. and Robert Velarde (TWIF Marketing).

For more information on FastTracSC and the FastTrac programs, contact Mary Dickerson at mdickerson@charlestonchamber.org or visit www.FastTracSC.org.

via: FastTracSC

Acumen I.T., a Greenville-based technology company, has acquired TeleData USA, Inc., a regional designer, installer and supporter of Mitel business telephone systems.

TeleData has been a key regional player in the industry for more than 15 years, providing specialized products and services for the hospitality industry with a focus on the motel and restaurant markets. Through this acquisition, Acumen bolsters its communications product and service offering by strengthening its consultative support and enhancing its wiring and installation expertise.

Buddy Craven, co-owner of TeleData, will join Acumen as the manager of its Telephony department.

“The added expertise of TeleData strengthens our ability to serve our customers while further enabling us to offer enhanced opportunities for their businesses,” said David Pence, chief executive officer of Acumen. “What’s more, through this new relationship, we look forward to bringing new business and additional jobs to the Upstate.”

Acumen sell, installs, customizes and supports Mitel and Zultys business telephone systems, both recognized for their excellence in VoIP communications. Zultys received the Unified Communications Product of the Year Award for 2008, was voted #1 Business VoIP product, and was most recently awarded the Internet Telephony 2009 Excellence Award. Mitel is recognized as a phone system of choice for the Hospitality industry.

via: Acumen I.T.

Grand Strand Technology Council will be hosting the inaugural Grand Strand TechEXPO on Thursday, February 11 at the Crown Reef Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. Scheduled from noon until 7 p.m. in the Crown Reef Resort’s Ballroom, exhibits will showcase technology products and services from companies and organizations along the Grand Strand. There is no charge for attendance ans the event is open to the public. More information as www.gstechexpo.org.

via: Grand Strand Tech Expo

Proterra Inc., which develops and assembles drive and energy storage systems for heavy-duty vehicles, including their ground-breaking BE-35 fast-charge battery-electric transit bus, today announced that it will locate a facility in Greenville County at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) for research and development as well as assembly of its products. Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Bob Inglis, Mayor Knox White, Greenville County Council Chairman H. G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., Clemson University President James Barker, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the South Carolina Research Authority joined Proterra in making the announcement today.

“We are very excited to pursue the next stage of Proterra’s manufacturing and development in Greenville. This new facility will be our first full-scale, state-of-the-art research and development and manufacturing facility for our groundbreaking clean transportation solutions. Several months ago, Proterra retained the help of eRealty Companies Inc. and NPB Capital to assist in the site selection process. After a nation-wide search involving some 30 states, we selected Greenville, South Carolina as a result of the state’s numerous benefits in terms of workforce capabilities and research and development support. Additionally, we were impressed by the efforts of the Governor, the federal delegation, the local officials and economic development entities which far exceeded our expectations. We look forward to continuing a long and fruitful level of collaboration with the state of South Carolina and City of Greenville,” said Jeff Granato, CEO of Proterra Inc.

Proterra and its partners design, develop and assemble all electric and battery dominant hybrid drive solutions and complete vehicles for commercial applications including transit, school and commercial buses, parcel delivery vehicles and other class 4-8 trucks. Its revolutionary BE-35 fast charge battery electric transit bus has been tested at the Federal Transit Administration’s Altoona Center as achieving between 17 and 21 miles per gallon (diesel equivalent), a roughly 500 percent improvement over conventional diesel buses. Proterra’s very first vehicle, a battery dominant fuel cell hybrid transit bus funded by the FTA, is in service in Columbia, South Carolina. Proterra is headquartered in Golden, Colorado at the Coors Technology Center.

“Proterra’s decision to put down roots in South Carolina represents not only a significant investment and new job opportunities, but also another step toward expanding our state’s role in the growing market of next generation clean technologies,” said Gov. Sanford. “I’d offer the state’s appreciation to Sec. Taylor and his team at Commerce along with all our economic development partners at the state and local levels for their combined efforts to make our state that much more competitive in this global economy. With that said, we look forward to welcoming the Proterra team to South Carolina.”

Proterra anticipates that it will invest $68 million and create more than 1,300 new jobs over the next seven years in Greenville County. The company will hire a variety of skilled workers to support functions ranging from mechanical assembly, warehouse, logistics, managerial, engineering and quality assurance.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has approved Proterra for the Job Development Credits program, which is a performance-based incentive directly related to new job creation and new capital investment. Additionally, Commerce will make two grants to Greenville County totaling $3 million to assist with site preparation and infrastructure improvements for the project.
Upstate South Carolina will be home to one of the nation’s most innovative transportation companies with today’s announcement that Proterra has chosen CU-ICAR as home for its assembly and research and development facilities.

“This is a red letter day, not just for Greenville, but for the Upstate and for South Carolina. Proterra opens the door to a whole new range of innovative enterprises to come. We are very proud of our team who worked very hard to make this happen, and we are very proud of our newest corporate citizen – Proterra,” said H. G. “Butch” Kirven Jr., GADC director and chairman of Greenville County Council.
“This is exciting news for Clemson University, for Greenville and for South Carolina,” Clemson University President James F. Barker said. “Proterra is an innovative, dynamic company that brings a new dimension to the CU-ICAR campus. Its product and processes fit the CU-ICAR curriculum and our program-driven campus perfectly. We look forward to a great partnership.”

“In addition to Clemson University, many others have worked tirelessly over the past several months to convince Proterra that CU-ICAR is the right place to realize their goals for the future,” Barker added.

“Not unlike the recent Boeing 787 announcement, this is another example of South Carolina leading in the green economy. The bus that Proterra is going to build in Greenville will not only be good for the environment, but it will help this nation break our dependency on foreign oil,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham. “I applaud local and state leaders for helping make the case that South Carolina is a great place to do business.”

“This exciting news reaffirms South Carolina as one of the best places in the world to do business,” said Sen. Jim DeMint. “We can all be proud of the strategic partnership between economic development professionals, education and research leaders and elected officials at every level that helped attract these much-needed jobs. Proterra’s decision to locate in Greenville is one more step towards the fulfillment of the long-term vision of the Upstate as a world-class automotive cluster. I’m confident this investment will pay dividends for both Proterra and our community for years to come.”

Proterra’s decision to invest in Greenville was the result of a coordinated team effort from the federal delegation to the local level.

“We’re excited to welcome Proterra to the Upstate and CU-ICAR. This commitment on the part of Proterra continues to show the way CU-ICAR is fulfilling its promise to create jobs and help South Carolina lead nationally in reinventing the car,” Inglis said. “Proterra exemplifies the can-do spirit of Americans by creating new jobs through innovation and in the process helping break our dependence on the Middle East for oil. This goes to show that the road to energy security and economic recovery runs through the Upstate of South Carolina.”
“Proterra’s landing in South Carolina is the result of both team effort and growing alignment among business, academic, governmental and economic development partners,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA Chief Executive Officer. “While SCRA’s SC Launch program has been primarily focused on support of start-up companies, in concert with our partners across the state, we’ll see more and more landing parties like Proterra arrive in South Carolina to further strengthen the knowledge economy here. These important high-tech businesses are closely aligning with the vertical markets that our research universities and their economic development partners have targeted.”
The City of Greenville will not only add an innovative transportation company to its business community, but Greenville will also purchase buses from Proterra for the City’s public transit use.

“Proterra’s location in Greenville is another piece in the CU-ICAR puzzle that establishes it as one of the premier locations for leading edge transportation and technology companies,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White.

In addition to state and local officials, Proterra thanked the following parties for their efforts: Greenville Area Development Corporation, the South Carolina Energy Office, readySC™, the Clemson University Real Estate Foundation and many others.

Proterra will lease 25 acres in Technology Neighborhood Three on the CU-ICAR campus to construct a 240,000-square-foot building, with the potential to expand into the entire 50-acre site. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2010. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at a future date.

Proterra will work with readySC™ on workforce training and job placement. Please note that hiring will begin at a future date that has yet to be determined. Information regarding Proterra may be obtained by visiting www.proterra.com, and for interest in the new facility, please contact: Greenville@Proterra.com.

via: Proterra