South Carolina Research Universities

1. South Carolina Research Universities An Assessment of Commercialization and Entrepreneurial Activities

2. Research Expenditures Source: American University Technology Managers (AUTM) survey

3. Patents Issued

4. Start-up Companies Start-ups in this survey means companies that were dependent upon licensing the institution’s technology for initiation

5. University of South Carolina • USC Technology Incubator • 10 companies graduated, 20 current tenants • Over 220 jobs generated • Managed by the USC Research Foundation • $275,000 budget annually from multi-sources. No funding from USC • Proposed to move to a 40,000 sq. ft. building • Research Campus • 5 million sq. ft. campus • Mixture of research labs, private companies, retail stores, and housing • BusinessLink • Streamlines the private companies’ access to USC faculty, staff, facility, and support services

6. Clemson University • International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) • Includes graduate engineering center, research and testing facilities, and private industry R&D operations • Partners: BMW, Microsoft, IBM, Michelin North America • Clemson Research Park • 10 current tenants • An incubation system has spun off approximately 10 companies

7. Medical University of South Carolina • The Foundation for Research Development • Created in 1995 • Manages the university’s intellectual property • Eight new companies started by licensing MUSC research • $450,000 generated by license agreements • No formal incubation program at MUSC, but next building phase has planned for space

8. Georgia Institute of Technology • Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) • Technology incubator established in 1981 • Over 100 companies graduated from ATDC • Generated over 4,600 jobs for Georgia • $2 million operating budget from the state • Economic Development Institute (EDI) • Offers an array of services to improve the competitiveness of Georgia business communities • VentureLab • Assists Georgia Tech faculty in moving laboratory innovation to commercial market

9. N.C. State University • Research Triangle Park • Hosts over 100 research and development facilities and 38,500 employees • Helps N.C. State attract prominent faculty and increase external partnership • Centennial Campus • “Technopolis” • $100,000 annual operating budget from the university • Overseen by the Vice-Chancellor for Extension and Engagement • Hosts more than 100 companies, government agencies, and a business incubator • University Policy • “Realms of Faculty Responsibility,” which is the tenure and promotion guidelines, stresses external partnership and faculty’s role in driving state economy

10. Comments From Interviewees • USC policy neither encourages nor discourages technology transfer. • South Carolina has lack of local companies in USC’s research expertise. Therefore, USC has to attract companies from outside of the state. • The Venture Capital Bill will not help start-ups significantly. Angel fund is the main funding source for start-ups and early-stage capital. • It is hard for angel partners to attract more members in South Carolina. • University is a top-down structure. If we want any change, the top management should advocate and support it. • The USC business incubator director has to spend 60% of his time to get funding. • Do not have the people and resources to “mine” the university for commercialization opportunities. • No one standing in line wanting to start a new company and get in the incubation system for the university. But, substantial number waiting in line for assistance with patents and licensing.

11. Initial Observations For Further Study • At all of these universities, found technology transfer administrators struggling with • Lack of entrepreneurial culture • Lack of policies to support commercialization • Lack of resources

12. Initial Observations For Further Study (Cont’d) • Lack of entrepreneurial culture demonstrated by absence of professors and staff with entrepreneurial background and desire to collaborate with private sector to create new business. • Lack of policy support demonstrated by absence of rewards in tenure and promotion policy for commercialization, for faculty participation in entrepreneurial activities, and use of multi-disciplines to assist staff with new ideas. • Lack of resources demonstrated by lack of facilities, lack of funding for incubations, and lack of initial support for innovations.

13. Initial Recommendations For Consideration • Need to have more targeted incentives and job credits for entrepreneurial activities and start-up companies initiated by research universities. • Need to expand endowed chair program to include funding for new junior faculty with entrepreneurial background from benchmark universities. • Need for universities to re-think their policies concerning tenure and promotion so as to include entrepreneurial activities. • Need for universities to develop much stronger relationships with businesses in state. • Need to consider developing collaborative support for all three research universities to provide legal (particularly intellectual property), financial, business planning, and marketing expertise to support commercialization .