South Carolina Research Authority Opens New Office in Greenville

To propel innovation and bolster startups in the Upstate region, the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) celebrated the grand opening of its latest office at the Greenville ONE Center on July 9th, 2024. The SCRA, commissioned with promoting research and innovation in partnership with leading universities and emerging companies, is broadening its reach in the Upstate, the base of many of its portfolio companies.

Fostering Growth and Collaboration

According to SCRA President and CEO Bob Quinn, the new workspace is intended not just for the staff but also as a hub for collaboration and interaction geared towards business development. Collaborative meeting spaces and conference rooms will be available free of charge to member and portfolio companies in the new Greenville office. This provision is part of the recently launched Member Benefits program by SCRA, which also includes discounted services like health insurance, web database expertise, legal and accounting services.

Investing in Innovation

The SCRA is channeling its initiatives towards four primary economic sectors: Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Information Technology, Life Sciences, and Clean Technology, Sustainability and Resilience.

In line with emphasizing the Upstate’s role in the state’s innovation economy, SCRA has recently awarded a $50,000 acceleration grant to Greenville-based ThreatCaptain LLC and also welcomed Greenville’s Treblehook LLC as a member company.

SCRA’s Economic Contribution in 2023

In 2023, the SCRA’s contributions to the state’s economy were profound. It supported 5,825 jobs, with an average salary of over $91,000 and bolstered the economy with contributions worth $1.2 billion. Additionally, SCRA provided $4.8 million in funding to its member companies, portfolio companies, and academic institutions.

The SCRA owned or managed over 1.4 million square feet of lab, office, and collaboration space, thus resiliently pushing the bar to promote new businesses and foster a start-up culture in the region.

Future Plans

The new Greenville office will also house the staff from SC Launch Inc., SCRA’s investment affiliate, which was established in 2006 to support technology and knowledge-based companies. These initiatives align with its mission to fuel the growth of South Carolina’s innovation economy.

More Information

For more information about their facilities, initiativesand programs, visit the official SCRA website at www.scra.org