Economic Development

Clemson University is a driver of economic development in South Carolina today as it has been since its establishment in the late 19th century. Clemson is working with other key partners in the state to develop a knowledge-based economy to attract business that fits with academic strengths of the state’s research universities.

Clemson has aggressively pursued funding to support research programs through a legislation package passed by the South Carolina General Assembly since 2002.

These economic development provisos are designed to strengthen the relationship between industry and academia, provide funding for research facilities, attract top faculty who will in turn generate new research and, perhaps most important, educate future leaders for industry. Furthermore, these provisos also provide financial and professional consulting resources for start-up companies and landing parties.

One innovative program provides millions of dollars to create Centers of Economic Excellence based on the institution’s research strengths in partnership with a South Carolina-based industry. The state provides a dollar-for-dollar match of private investment.

In 2003, Clemson established its first Center of Economic Excellence, the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Today, more than $215 million in public and private investment has made CU-ICAR a thriving reality with four endowed chairs leading a unique master’s and doctoral program in automotive engineering, focusing on systems integration. In all, Clemson has been awarded a total of $45 million in state funding to support 15 endowed chairs in 12 Centers of Economic Excellence.