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University Created, Partnership Driven

Posted December 6, 2007

University Created, Partnership Driven

In the Nov/Dec issue of “Business Xpansion Journal”, Rachel Duran begins her article describing the dynamic nature of the automotive supplier base. The automotive supplier base is becoming more technologically driven from the need to create innovative products for us, the consumer.

I think we can all appreciate the better performance and safety of most of today’s vehicles. It wasn’t surprising that long into the article she began to “shift gears” to a different topic- the importance of the research university.

Locally, our research university has obviously made great commitments to the research and development needs of the automotive market.

The story of a research university whose mission is to be the world’s premier automotive research campus located right here in the Upstate is one I have been very fortunate to hear from Clemson officials and CU-ICAR executives over the past several years.

However, even top Clemson officials would say it is not just them pushing to achieve this mission, but a partnership with many organizations.

Ms. Duran goes on to write, “University-related, public and private sector collaborations are vital in supporting the innovation in the research and development and manufacturing activities if suppliers.” Partnerships are what drive all economic development.

The most impressive of these collaborations truly are when the private and public sectors come together for the greater good of the community.

As the CU-ICAR campus is the centerpiece for the automotive market, The Clemson University – Advanced Materials Center is South Carolina’s magnet facility for attracting jobs and investment from the advanced materials industry. Neither of these would be possible without partnerships.

These hubs of research and educational excellence are allowing us to make a difference in job creation and new investment into the community one great idea at a time.