Economic Development
UNMATCHED ENGINEER
UNPARALLEL OPPORTUNITIES
UNTOLD DISCOVERIES
As Clemson prepared to launch its new International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in 2004, finding the right person to head the center was not a simple task. “We were looking for someone, after all, to lead a program unlike any other in the world,” says Clemson University President James F. Barker ’70.
“When Tom Kurfess agreed to join the CU-ICAR team, we knew we had found the perfect leader. His vision, his intelligence, his energy, his character and his passion for his work were evident to everyone with whom he came in contact.”
“I was very impressed!” says Kurfess. “We had had opportunities to move all over the place — and not only to top institutions within the United States, but overseas. When I saw what was going on here, there was just no doubt in my mind that I had to be here. I could see from the beginning that this was an opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down.”
Leading Economic Development
Making an impact on South Carolina’s economy has always been a fundamental part of Clemson University. After all, it was founder Thomas Green Clemson’s vision that the University provide a quality education to the state’s youth and help to rebuild the war-ravaged economy of the South. Today, Clemson University is continuing to fulfill this founding principle by driving economic development through centers, institutes and services across the state.
The Value
- Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR): CU-ICAR is an advanced-technology research campus where academia, industry and government collaborate to fuel a knowledge base for automotive engineering and make South Carolina the epicenter of innovation.
- Clemson University Restoration Institute: The Restoration Institute drives economic growth by creating, developing and fostering restoration industries and environmentally sustainable technologies.
- Clemson University Translational Bioengineering Research Center: Faculty and students at the Translational Bioengineering Research Center focus on implementing and marketing new ideas — in addition to idea development — to make a significant impact on patient care and disease diagnosis.
- Clemson University Youth Learning Institute (YLI): As part of the University’s public service mission, YLI works to create and deliver innovative programs that enhance the lives of South Carolina’s youth, thereby helping to create stronger communities.
The Need
With top faculty like Professor Kurfess leading the way, Clemson is proud to spearhead programs that are making South Carolina the authority in automotive, environmental, biomedical and educational research and practice:
The Impact
Programs and institutes such as CU-ICAR are essential to moving our University and our state forward. Investments in these programs will help Clemson:
- Build a knowledge-based economy in South Carolina.
- Create additional jobs in science and technology.
- Bring about innovations in the automotive, restoration and bioengineering industries.
- Enhance educational and enrichment opportunities for the state’s youth.
- Recruit and retain top researchers and students, whose achievements will help propel Clemson into the top 20
Leading universities do more than just educate students. In today’s university setting, outreach and service are intertwined into students’ daily lives; future-shaping research is performed in conjunction with the learning environment; and economic development is stimulated through intellectual property, invention and enterprise.
With big ideas come big benefits: new opportunities, job creation, startup companies, new applications for outdated industries, economic prosperity, a socioeconomic shift up, wealth creation, success, and, of course, a great, hands-on educational and research environment for the nation’s best students and faculty!