University of South Carolina-City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative Receives 2009 Innovator Award from Southern Growth Policies Board
March 23, 2009Collaborative Recognized for Regional Partnership to Create Economic Opportunity
COLUMBIA, SC – March 23, 2009 – The University of South Carolina- City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative has been selected to represent South Carolina as the winner of the 2009 Innovator Award from the Southern Growth Policies Board, a non-partisan public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The USC-Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative (USCCFCC) was chosen from a strong pool of nominees in the Southern region as an outstanding initiative that encourages economic opportunities and quality of life relating to bio-products, alternative energy, and energy efficiency.
Innovator awards are presented annually to one organization in each of Southern Growth’s member states — Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. USCCFC was selected for its innovative use of technologies to promote energy efficiency; promotion of cross-industry collaboration; commercialization/technology transfer; preparation of workers for green collar jobs; and its replicability to other organizations or geographic areas. The USCCFCC also received special consideration because of its collaborative partnerships with the public, private, university, government and nonprofit sectors.
“We are very excited to be recognized for our innovation,” said City of Columbia Mayor Bob Coble. “We believe that fuel cells and other alternative energy options will revolutionize not only cities, but more importantly, the lives of citizens through the freedom that comes from energy independence, the overall environmental benefits and the economic opportunity that this potential trillion dollar new industry will generate.”
In 2006, USCCFCC was formed by the University of South Carolina, the City of Columbia, EngenuitySC and the South Carolina Research Authority to position Columbia, SC as a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation and technology. The organization’s founding partners realized that Columbia, SC had a distinct set of research capabilities in future fuels at the University and strong commercialization & collaboration assets within the SC Research Authority.
“USCCFCC shares experience and resources from very distinct industry areas to build a strong collaboration, and we are pleased to be recognized for our efforts and progress, “said Bill Mahoney, Executive Director for the South Carolina Research Authority.
In an effort to encourage commercialization of multiple products and applications within the hydrogen and fuel cell space, in 2006, the USCCFCC created the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge to provide funding and support for industry/university collaborations. The region’s key stakeholders: higher education, entrepreneurs, the business community, and the municipal/state government are unified in support and investment in this emerging technology area. The Challenge plans to announce the recipients of its 2009 award recipients on Wednesday, April 1, during the National Hydrogen Association Conference in Columbia, SC.
“Our program is exceptional because of our commitment to creating a knowledge-based innovation pipeline where discovery, development, and deployment create an alternative energy engine for our
region,” said Dr. Harris Pastides, University of South Carolina President. “In less than five years, South Carolina has become an emerging center for hydrogen, fuel cell, and other alternative energy technologies through strong leadership, a focused vision, and passionate execution of that vision.”
The USCCFCC will be publicly honored along with 13 other Innovators in the Southern region on Monday, June 8, 2009, in an awards ceremony and reception during the South Growth Policies Board annual conference, The Business of Southern Energy, in Biloxi, Mississippi, hosted by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. For more information about the USCCGC and the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge, visit www.fuelcellchallenge.com.
About the Southern Growth Policies Board
Southern Growth Policies Board is a non-partisan public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Formed by the region’s governors in 1971, Southern Growth Policies Board develops and advances visionary economic development policies by providing a forum for partnership and dialog among a diverse cross-section of the region’s governors, legislators, business and academic leaders and the economic- and community-development sectors. This unique public-private partnership is devoted to strengthening the South’s economy and creating the highest possible quality of life.
About the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative
The University of South Carolina – City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative was formed by the University of South Carolina, the City of Columbia, EngenuitySC and the South Carolina Research Authority to position Columbia, SC as a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation and technology. Its mission is to attract private sector partners, top fuel cell scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators to the Columbia region; as well as to collaborate with private sector leaders from all areas of the fuel cell market for the unprecedented deployment of fuel cell and other alternative energy technologies into multiple city, university and commercial applications throughout the region. Learn more at: www.fuelcellchallenge.com
About the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is dedicated to building the knowledge economy in South Carolina by attracting the world’s top professors, scientists, students and entrepreneurs to Columbia, SC. Through its new Innovation district called Innovista, the University is supporting research initiatives in nanotechnology, health sciences, Future Fuels™, the environment, and information and knowledge technologies. For more information, visit: www.sc.edu
About the City of Columbia
The City of Columbia is as rich in cultural heritage and history is it is with talent and opportunity. The City of Columbia is dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge economy in the midlands region through its partnership in the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, its award winning technology incubator, and its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation. The city fully supports the creation of the first integrated fuel cell district in the country and is committed to making Columbia a business friendly environment for innovative companies. For more information, visit: www.columbiasc.net
About EngenuitySC
EngenuitySC is an active public/private sector partnership focused on nurturing the growth of a knowledge-based economy in the Columbia, SC region. Comprised of business and industry leaders, along with representatives from local government and academia, EngenuitySC strives to create a fertile business climate that encourages entrepreneurship and the commercialization of ideas and technology, harnesses the research breakthroughs of higher education institutions, establishes public policy that is sensitive to the unique needs of knowledge-based companies, and promotes access to start-up investment capital. For more information, visit: www.engenuitysc.com
About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with off
ices in Anderson, Charleston, and Columbia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology with industry, government, and research universities like Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information, visit: www.scra.org.