Bluffton, Clemson University partner in technology business incubator

Published: September 20, 2011

BLUFFTON — Bluffton is joining a nonprofit public-private economic development pilot project venture with Clemson University. Called “Building the Technology Village,” the three-year project is the first of five such projects planned for non-metro areas across the state to commercialize technology and create new businesses.

It is offered through the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development. 

The storefront technology incubator will be housed in occupant-ready space provided by CareCore National at the Buckwalter Place Tech Park. It will be community-owned and will be operated by a nonprofit entity established and supported by the town and private investment.  

The center will be “a place that appreciates entrepreneurs and celebrates ideas for emerging technology companies,” said Karl Kelly, Clemson director of commercialization and technology incubation.  

The governing board of the center will include both private and public leaders, who will choose the participants. The town will fund a consultant-employee for the center.  

Mayor Lisa Sulka envisions the incubator as a place where “the region’s underserved fledging entrepreneurs can find support so their ideas can be nurtured and grow into local and regional businesses.”  

The concept offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to join the incubator, where real-time distance learning is combined with hands-on consulting support provided by the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development. In addition to training and support from the university, entrepreneurs in the center will benefit from collaborating with one another as their business ideas develop.  

Clemson resources available to participating entrepreneurs include information on protecting intellectual property, evaluating technology, locating product development services and seed financing, connecting with a business mentor, building corporate relationships and recruiting employees. The goal is to prepare entrepreneurs to leave the center and establish new businesses that enhance economic development and job creation in the community.  

Bill Miles, longtime president of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, sees the incubator project as “a very progressive step not only for Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, but for the entire region including Savannah.”  

Mac Horton, director of the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development, views the establishment of this first program in South Carolina as a “major step forward to create synergistic entrepreneurial economic development connectivity throughout the state.”  

The Buckwalter Tech Park Incubator is planned to be up and running by the end of the year.

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