Innovation

From founders to executives to researchers, South Carolinians are developing life-changing technologies and products every day.

South Carolina mobilizes the dynamic flow of resources and information among people, industries and institutions for the prosperity of our citizens. Elevating and connecting the state’s people-driven ecosystem is at the forefront to ensuring global competitiveness and driving future economic growth. The innovation team at SC Commerce embraces a risk-taking culture as we identify, prioritize, develop and launch new assets to support South Carolina’s business community in their relentless pursuits of transformational ideas.

No innovator’s story is the same.

We interviewed over 30 innovators across South Carolina to learn what it takes to break the mold. See more of their stories.

Mike Finnern on Proterra’s Innovation in Sustainable Vehicles

1:54 MIN

Andrew Lee on IMCS’s Innovation in Biotechnology

1:02 MIN

Vernita Brown on Natalist’s Innovation in Fertility

2:87 MIN

James Townsend on Dopple’s Innovation in 3D Visualization Software

1:32 MIN

Elizabeth Rhue on Sonoco’s Innovation in Global Packaging

2:19 MIN

South Carolina has the capital, talent, lab space and vibrant entrepreneurial community to help startups flourish and established companies stay at the forefront of their field.

Research & Development
Startups
Funding
Talent

Research & Development

Bring new ideas to market alongside communities and industry with South Carolina’s 60 colleges and universities. Find a sampling of the state's R&D resources below.

Connecting research
to industry

Research
universities

World-class labs
& facilities

Startup Culture and Support

From mountains to coast and everywhere in between, South Carolina buzzes with a thriving entrepreneurial culture full of support.

Charleston Region

Columbia Region

Greenville Region

Throughout
the State

Funding Sources and Opportunities

Funding is the life-blood of innovation activities and startups. South Carolina has seen a 27.5x increase in capital invested in startups since 2011 (Pitchbook, Dec. 2022).

Developing New
Risk Capital

Palmetto Venture Fellowship: developing new risk capital investors in South Carolina

Federal
Grant Support

3Phase: free SBIR/STTR federal grant support for South Carolina small- and medium-sized businesses

Funding
Sources

Talent

An ever-present, highly-skilled talent pipeline is critical for business growth and sustainability.

Relentless
Challenge Grant

S.C. Commerce’s Relentless Challenge Grant is eligible to South Carolina-based nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and municipalities that are implementing new programs that break down barriers to innovation.

About the Relentless Challenge Grant