Clemson University honors Duke Energy with innovation center naming
September 30, 2010
CLEMSON, SC – September 24, 2010 – A new facility under construction at the Clemson University Advanced Materials Center in Anderson County will be named the Duke Energy Innovation Center, Clemson President James F. Barker announced Friday.
Photo at right: Jim Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy, walks with Clemson President James F. Barker in front of the Duke Energy Innovation Center.
Duke Energy has been a long-time partner with Clemson in helping us achieve our goals. They have supported our students through scholarships. They have supported us through infrastructure, by improving the power supply necessary to support the needs of this building and especially of our high-speed computing. And most recently they have supported us through funding for this innovation center, he said.
Believe me, there is no pun intended when I say that Duke Energy has empowered Clemson University. We are extremely grateful for the commitment of this exceptional private-sector partner, and we want to express our appreciation in this very public way. It is an honor to have the Duke Energy name associated with this project.
Above Image: Architect’s rendering of the Duke Energy Innovation Center.
Clemson University is developing the future technologies and students to fuel our economy, said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. We see our investment in Clemson as an investment in the economic future of South Carolina.
The innovation center will serve as a high-tech business incubator focusing on the advanced materials industry. Space will be available for startup companies and so-called “landing parties” of existing companies interested in exploring the viability of locating new businesses or relocating existing businesses in the area.
The innovation center is a joint project with the South Carolina Research Authority, which will house its advanced materials research programs in a separate wing. Clemson and SCRA will share some common lobby and gathering space in the facility, which is due to be completed and available for occupancy early next spring.
“Along with our business, academic, government and economic development partners, SCRA is dedicated to investing both our capital and applied research and commercialization know-how to deliver a facility that will support the creation of high-paying, knowledge economy jobs,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. This facility will serve startup companies with intellectual property coming out of Clemson University as well as the private sector. The facility also will provide secure space where sensitive materials work can be performed.”
Anderson County has partnered with Clemson to develop the Clemson University Advanced Materials Center, which is located on S.C. 187 just three miles from Interstate 85 and midway between Atlanta and Charlotte. The center is home to a number of nationally recognized materials-related research centers, such as the National Brick Research Center and the Tile Council of America, in addition to Clemson’s Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility for materials research and electron microscopy that is adjacent to the Duke Energy Innovation Center. Clemson’s world-class computing and information technology facilities are also located in the center.
Innovate Anderson, a public-private partnership to promote economic development in Anderson County, purchased the remaining property in the Clemson University Advanced Materials Center on behalf of the county to attract private industry. Speaking to a group of business leaders and guests at Friday’s announcement, Barker said the Duke Energy Innovation Center completes the innovation chain so critical to economic growth.
Universities are in the business of creating and sharing knowledge, he said. Our faculty and student researchers discover new ideas, new materials or new products. Getting this information to the marketplace requires time, talent and a network of support. This innovation center provides both space and opportunity to entrepreneurs for collaboration and information sharing.
