InnoVenture Southeast Announces SPAWAR as the 2011 Przirembel Prize Winner

GREENVILLE, SC – May 17, 2011 –  The first annual Przirembel Prize was awarded on the evening of May 10, 2011 to Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic in celebration of a collaborative effort of the SSC Atlantic team; an example of government and industry partnership with success and problem solution at its core. The Carolinas Nuclear Cluster and The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering were finalists. The ceremony was held at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville, SC.

“I was inspired by the great variety of collaborative initiatives across the region all supporting some aspects of innovation with the common objective to build the regional economies to be globally competitive” commented Chris Przirembel, who presented the Przirembel Prize on Tuesday. “Although we were committed to select the first place finalist, I was reluctant to designate the SPAWAR Systems Center as winner, because, indeed, all of the entries were winners in their own right.”

Accepting the award for SPAWAR was Kevin McGee. “On behalf of the command, we are honored to receive this award and I dedicate this to the military men and women who serve our nation every day both at home and overseas.”

From twenty-one applications received, SPAWAR was one of the three finalists for the Prize. Warfighters are losing their lives due to the enemy’s use of roadside bombs, also known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic and Industry comes together to design a vehicle with a V-shaped hull and raised chassis which deflects bomb blasts outward, away from the interior where troops sit and has integrated nearly 16,000 MRAP vehicles and 8,000 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs).

The collaboration created over 1,200 jobs directly across the government and industry sectors across the state of South Carolina. Additional jobs were created and maintained in third party suppliers of equipment and support services across the region by secondary partnerships for industrial supplies and services.

The Carolinas Nuclear Cluster (CNC), is a collaboration of 47 companies, universities, technical colleges, and nonprofits that advance economic development in North Carolina and South Carolina by strengthening and expanding the region’s nuclear energy industry, including its workforce, technology, services, products and policies.

Mark Fecteau, VP Asia Strategy, Westinghouse; Chairman of the Carolinas’ Nuclear Cluster commented “For decades our regional nuclear industry has been a key support for economic development, providing clean, affordable and dependable electricity for our industry and businesses. At the same time our industry pumps more than $2 billion annually into the Carolinas’ economy via paychecks and approaches a billion dollars in local taxes. Our intent is to extend this important economic role in the Carolinas as we grow our industry. There is an exciting future for the nuclear energy industry in our states.”

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) is a joint academic program of North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T SU) and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG); the only nanoschool that is a collaboration of two universities. JSNN is one of only two schools in the United States to have both nanoscience and nanoengineering degree programs.

The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering of North Carolina A&T State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is honored to have been a finalist for the  Przirembel Prize given at InnoVenture Southeast.” commented Dr. James Ryan, Founding Dean for the Joint School. “We congratulate SPAWAR on their outstanding partnership and substantial economic impact. The Przirembel Prize competition and the Innoventure Southeast Meeting shows the innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative style so characteristic of the southeast’s high tech community.

Four collaborations were recognized as Honorable Mention: The Charlotte Research Institute at UNC Charlotte, The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM), The North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) and The SeaHawk Interagency Operations Center (IOC) in Charleston, SC.

About the Przirembel Prize

The Przirembel Prize recognizes collaborations across diverse organizations in the Southeastern United States recognized as significant by those outside the region. The Prize promotes best practices in open innovation and builds a greater sense of identity of the Southeastern United States as an innovation powerhouse in the world. The Prize is named for Chris Przirembel, a leader in open innovation who fostered many high impact collaborations during his career as Clemson University Vice President for Research and Economic
Development.

For more information visit PrzirembelPrize.com.

About InnoVenture Southeast

The InnoVenture Southeast community, managed by InnoVenture LLC, helps members discover and develop new business opportunities by connecting them with the customers, capital, talent and technology needed to succeed. The InnoVenture Southeast Conference is held annually each May.

For more information visit 2011.InnoVentureSoutheast.com.