Aimee Redick

Upstate Alliance

The Upstate has long prided itself on its history of manufacturing – from the grist mills that formed many of the region’s communities to the textile plants that created our identity all the way to the BMWs coming off the line everyday in Greer.

While we are often recognized for our ability to produce complex, quality products, a major reason behind the Upstate’s modern economic success has been research and innovation.  Our business leaders have long seen the value of not just creating a product, but creating it better than anywhere else in the world.

The Upstate began its journey into the automotive world with Spartanburg-based Milliken & Company. Back in the day, Milliken & Company produced fabric seats and roofing for Henry Ford’s gas-powered cars. Many years later our depth in the industry grew with the announcements of Michelin and BMW and developed even further with the creation of Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).

Since its groundbreaking in 2003, CU-ICAR has grown to be recognized as one of the top automotive research campuses in the world. The faculty and students are engaged in research for companies like BMW, GE Energy, Michelin, Timken and Toyota. And in 2011, they announced plans for a joint economic development initiative called Project Green. Once established, Project Green will provide a unique test bed for public and private stakeholders in the world of sustainable mobility and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity.

One of the goals of the upcoming InnoMobility 2012 on November 7 and 8 at the TD Convention Center is to highlight the innovation that the region is forging in the mobility industry, which starts with automobiles that have four wheels on the pavement but goes well beyond.

Going into its second year, this conference is bringing together a community of diverse mobility leaders both globally and regionally that are exploring how evolving demographics and advancing technology can lead to new high-growth mobility markets.

Participants will have the opportunity to connect with mobility thought leaders from companies including Michelin North America, Sage Automotive Interiors, BMW, Ford, Cisco, Intel and a variety of entrepreneurial firms including Volta Volare and Proterra as well as academic centers including CU-ICAR and the NSF FREEDM Systems Center at North Carolina State University.

Helping to illustrate the mobility story is a group of world-class speakers including:

•   Ryan Popple: Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, CA
•   Peter Falt: Director of Strategic Partnering for BMW Group Designworks USA, CA
•   Joel Hoffman: Business Strategist at Automotive Solutions Division at Intel, MI
•   Barry Einsig: Senior Manager Transportation, Connected Industries Group at Cisco Systems, CA
•   Jon Coleman: Fleet Sustainability & Technology at Ford Motor Company, MI

The Southeast, and the Upstate especially, has found itself at the epicenter of a large, transforming global mobility industry with an innovative ecosystem of forward thinking mobility companies and academic centers. By no means, was this happenstance.

Our region and its leaders from both the public and private sector have long seen the power of collaboration, with CU-ICAR being a prime example. To continue with this tradition, support is growing faster than ever for innovative entrepreneurs through projects such as the Greenville Chamber’s NEXT Innovation Center; the Center for Business & Entrepreneurial Development at the Spartanburg Community College Tyger River Campus; the annual InnoVenture conference that brings together leaders in the innovation sector and the SCRA that is supporting research and development throughout the region.

All of this helps build and sustain the Upstate’s growing economy and a unique quality of life.

Aimee Redick is an Investment Recruitment Officer for the Upstate SC Alliance, a public/private regional economic development organization designed to globally market the 10 counties in South Carolina’s Upstate. She is tasked with establishing a network of automotive-related leaders in the Upstate to help in the marketing and recruitment efforts to this region. She can be reached via email at aredick@upstatealliance.com. Additional information is available through the Alliance’s automotive web site, www.AutomotiveinUpstateSC.com.

InnoMobility 2012 Conference Issues Call for Presenters

Greenville, S.C. – InnoMobility is actively seeking high-impact opportunity presentations on emerging technologies in mobility in these focus areas: Innovative design and manufacturing, connectivity and mobile services, sustainable systems and clean tech and electric vehicles and infrastructure. Opportunity presentations can be from leaders in major corporations, middle market companies, entrepreneurial businesses, and academic centers. Instructions to apply can be found at www.innomobility.com .

The InnoMobility Conference will be held at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, S.C., November 7-8^th, 2012. InnoMobility connects industry, academia, entrepreneurs, and investors who are interested in exploring partnerships to develop emerging business opportunities from the global transformation of mobility.

Presenters will have an opportunity to connect with Venture Capital firms including Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers and BMW iVentures, as well as with conference partners including Michelin North America, Sage Automotive Interiors, SCRA, BMW, Ford, Honda, Cisco, Intel, Itron, Duke Energy, CU-ICAR, and many others.

Pertinent dates for the Call for Presentations include:

० Entries Open August 1, 2012

० Initial Selections September 15, 2012
० Final Selections October 10, 2012
० Conference Presentations November 7-8th, 2012

Questions should be addressed to Jessica Moss jessicamoss@innoventure.com.

InnoMobility is a global, innovative community of diverse thought leaders that explore how evolving demographics and advancing technology lead to high-growth new business opportunities. InnoMobility is managed by InnoVenture LLC.

Technology Ventures Sector will Serve as an Anchor Sponsor

Charleston, SC- July 30, 2012- SCRA Technology Ventures today announced the sponsorship of Greenville’s InnoMobility 2012 Global Conference. The conference, which connects industry, academia, entrepreneurs and investors, will be held on November 7th and 8th at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, South Carolina. SCRA joins fellow InnoMobility anchor partners Michelin North America and Sage Automotive Interiors. Other sponsors include Itron, Flextronics, SPATS and Duke Energy.

Conference participants will have the chance to connect with mobility leaders  and discuss: innovative design and manufacturing, connectivity and mobile services, sustainable systems and cleantech and electric vehicles and infrastructure. Opportunities will be presented by leaders in major corporations, middle market companies, entrepreneurial businesses and academic centers.

“The InnoMobility Conference is an outstanding forum for existing and emerging business leaders to collaborate,” said SCRA Technology Ventures President Ambrose Schwallie. “We are delighted to participate in this event that will help further South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy.”

“SCRA has been a strong partner throughout the years,” said John Warner, CEO of InnoVenture. “We are thrilled to have them as an InnoMobility anchor.”

Leading up to the global conference a community forum will be held at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research campus in Greenville on September 20th. To find out more information and to see the conference agenda visit www.innomobility.com. InnoMobility is managed by InnoVenture LLC.

About SCRA 

http://www.scra.org/
SCRA is an applied research corporation with over 29 years of experience delivering technology solutions with high returns on investment to federal and corporate clients. Our flagship SC Launch program, managed by SCRA’s Technology Ventures sector, helps early-stage companies to commercialize innovations and create jobs. SC Launch has supported 277 entities in South Carolina through investments and other support services. Multiple economic impact studies show SCRA’s cumulative output on South Carolina’s economy to be over $14 billion, and that the company has helped create approximately 15,000 technology-related jobs in the state, with annual wages averaging between $55,000 and $77,000.

About InnoMobility

InnoMobility is a global, innovative community of diverse thought leaders that explore how evolving demographics and advancing technology lead to high-growth new business opportunities centered around mobility, energy, materials and connectivity. InnoMobility is managed by InnoVenture LLC.

•   Ryan Popple: Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, CA
•   Peter Falt: Director of Strategic Partnering for BMW Group Designworks USA, CA
•   Joel Hoffman: Business Strategist at Automotive Solutions Division at Intel, MI
•   Gordon Feller: Director of Innovation at Cisco Systems, CA
•   David Berdish: Mgr., Sustainable Business Development at Ford Motor Company, MI

The conference brings together a global, open innovation community of diverse thought leaders exploring how evolving demographics and advancing technology lead to new high-growth mobility markets.  The conference agenda and registration information can be found at www.innomobility.com.

The southeast region is an epicenter of a large, transforming global mobility industry with an innovative ecosystem of forward thinking mobility companies and academic centers. InnoMobility connects industry, academia, entrepreneurs, and investors who are interested in exploring partnerships to develop emerging business opportunities from the global transformation of mobility. Opportunities are presented by leaders in major corporations, middle market companies, entrepreneurial businesses, and academic centers.

Participants will have the chance to connect with mobility thought leaders from companies including Michelin North America, Sage Automotive Interiors, BMW, Ford, Cisco, Intel, and a variety of entrepreneurial firms including Volta Volare and Proterra and academic centers including CU-ICAR and NSF FREEDM Systems Center at NC State University. Conference focus areas:

•   Innovative design and manufacturing
•   Connectivity and mobile services
•   Sustainable systems and cleantech
•   Electric vehicles and infrastructure

Leading up to the global conference two community forums will be held at the Carroll A. Campbell Graduate Engineering Center Auditorium on the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research campus in Greenville on July 19th and September 20th.

InnoMobility is managed by InnoVenture LLC. Contact Jessicamoss@innoventure.com for additional details.