Strength of CU-ICAR partnerships help fill new technology center

Published: August 15, 2011

Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research image by: Clemson University

GREENVILLE — A worldwide reputation as a leading center for collaboration has helped the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) secure tenants for its newest building.

More than a dozen companies and groups have signed leases or license agreements for space in CU-ICAR’s Center for Emerging Technologies.

Located at the heart of CU-ICAR, the center provides office, administrative and laboratory space for the transportation, technology and energy sectors.

Emerging or established companies are able to expand and develop technologies that complement research of Clemson University faculty and students. The center is designed to complete the technology chain from laboratory to the consumer end-user.

Bob Geolas, CU-ICAR executive director and Clemson University associate vice president for economic development, said the center’s success is testament to CU-ICAR’s reputation as the premier location for the automotive technology sector.

The mere fact the center has secured agreements with companies for more than 85 percent of the building during a time of continued economic difficulty across all regions and sectors speaks volumes to CU-ICAR’s industry standing, Geolas said.

“CU-ICAR is  a community that helps companies make connections and build relationships,” he said. “The Center for Emerging Technologies is the embodiment of that business model, and we are eager to see our newest partners flourish.”

The 60,000-square-foot state-of the-art center represents an investment of $11 million and marks another milestone in CU-ICAR’s history. 

The Clemson University Real Estate Foundation received $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and a $740,000 zero-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The center is located on property adjacent to the AutoPark and tower housing the CU-ICAR Partnership Office, St. Francis VRUM fitness center and Carolina First Gallery in Technology Neighborhood One. 

Construction of the center’s core and shell is complete and the first partners are scheduled to move in this month.

The list of tenants as of Aug. 11 is:

Office/Lab Tenants

• Fields Group LLC — 2,437 square feet
• Clemson Computing and Information Technology (CCIT) — 4,275 square feet
• Sage Automotive Interiors — 16,271 square feet
• MTC Federal Credit Union — 1,983 square feet
• South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) — 1,115 square feet
• Focus Chemical — 2,719 square feet

Technology Café Tenants

• CADFEM U.S. Inc. — two private offices, one open office
• L&L Products — one private office
• Cooliemon Technologies Inc. — one private office
• Mallett Technology Inc. — one open office
• InnoVenture LLC — one private office

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CU-ICAR will host the 2nd Automotive Transatlantic Summit Sept. 26-27 at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The conference will examine smart innovation processes, new trends in mobility and the implications for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. Click here for details.