Partnerships

You can make an impact.

The Watt Family Innovation Center enhances Clemson University’s ability to produce graduates with the sought-after creative, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to see projects from brainstorm to reality. Now is the time to take advantage of the applied research that will lead to new science and technology for existing and emerging industries.

Opportunities for partnership.

Your business can be on the leading edge of this investment opportunity to collaborate with some of the best and brightest students and faculty in the nation and the world.

Private, corporate and government involvement opportunities include:

Joint research and development programs.
Support for science and technology embedded in the center’s facilities.
Support for sustainability and transitioning to market for prototyping of innovative products.
Sponsorship of enabling resources for the center’s technology.

The partnership opportunities include the following levels:

Founding Innovation Partner is the highest level of partnership (Unavailable as of Jan 1, 2016).
Sustaining Innovation Partners contribute a minimum of $1 million.
Innovation Partners contribute between $500 - $999 thousand.
Room naming opportunities are also available.

To become a partner please contact:

JoVanna J. King
Senior Associate Vice President for Development
(e) jovanna@clemson.edu (p) 864-656-0663 (c) 864-940-7983.

Founding Partners

Haworth
About Us
Globally, Haworth improves workplaces with award-winning furniture, interior architecture and technology solutions to help customers achieve business goals and transform culture as well as support collaboration and innovation. Research + design drive a deep understanding of agile workplace needs and are at the center of the company’s strategy. Haworth is committed to protecting and restoring the environment, creating economic value as well as supporting and strengthening its communities. Founded in 1948, Haworth remains family-owned and privately-held and serves markets in more than 120 countries through a global network of 650 dealers and 6,500 employees.

Our Gift
Haworth Inc. has pledged a gift of $3 million to the Watt Center, including $800,000 in research funding and a $2.2 million gift-in-kind of interior products. "Haworth is a global leader in designing and furnishing interior workspaces that anticipate the future and reflect the company's deep commitment to sustainability," said Clemson President James P. Clements. "We are thrilled that Haworth is our first Founding Innovation Partner in the new Watt Center." Headquartered in Holland, Mich., Haworth is a private company led by three generations of the Haworth family. Haworth products include furniture, flooring, moveable walls, electrical and cabling support systems, and a touchscreen wall called "bluescape."

For more information, see:
SCRA
About Us
SCRA is an applied research corporation with more than 30 years of experience delivering technology solutions with high returns on investment to federal and corporate clients. To fulfill our mission, SCRA has three sectors: Our Technology Ventures sector has helped more than 290 early-stage companies to commercialize innovations and create jobs, our Applied R&D sector manages over 100 national and international programs worth $2.8 billion in contract value and our R&D Facilities sector builds and manages research facilities that include wet labs, secure rooms for sensitive work and advanced, high-tech manufacturing shops. Multiple economic impact studies show SCRA's cumulative output into South Carolina's economy to be over $16.6 billion.

Our Gift
As the center’s second Founding Innovation Partner, SCRA will provide $3 million for new cross-discipline operations and sustainability for supporting extended network and operations, including equipment to establish virtual connectivity between the Watt Family Innovation Center, SCRA Innovation Centers and research universities in the state. This commitment includes science and technology advancements, special projects and support for faculty, staff and students, curriculum and operations of the Watt Center. “The immediate and comprehensive advancements to multi-party communications that these studios will provide will greatly contribute to and improve our state’s ‘knowledge economy,’” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “This collaboration will add value and users to the current health-care industry core that is using the SC LightRail high-speed research network.”

For more information, see:
Philips Lighting
Our Gift
Philips Lighting North America, a global leader in lighting that has been focusing on innovative ways of using light to enhance people’s lives for more than 120 years, has made a gift to support research related to Philips lighting technology and a gift-in-kind of state-of-the-art lighting products to equip and furnish the interior and exterior of the Watt Family Innovation Center. “Working in isolation is never as effective as collaboration,” said Amy Huntington, CEO of Philips Lighting Americas. “We believe that great partnerships encourage great results. That’s why we’re pleased to have had the opportunity to support the Watt Family Innovation Center. …I know that the work and the programs supported by the Watt Family Innovation Center will make a meaningful impact and ensure a bright future for generations to come.”

For more information, see:
Comporium
About Us
Comporium, Inc., headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., is a diversified communications company providing voice, video, data, wireless, smart home systems and advertising services. It is the 14th largest privately-held enterprise in South Carolina, and it was the first company in the state to launch gigabit broadband service to business and residential accounts. Comporium's ventures include companies providing fiber transport and business solutions, data storage and managed services, smart devices and connected home/car services, and digital signage. For more information, please visit www.comporium.com.

Our Gift
Comporium is a Founding Innovation Partner committed to Clemson University's Watt Family Innovation Center innovations that include scientific analytics, experimental development and transition/scale-up of new products. Commitment to innovation and education by Comporium and Clemson will enhance value to each organization and will foster ideas that expedite the movement of new connected products and services to the marketplace. Clemson’s faculty, staff, and students have historically collaborated and partnered with Comporium in academic and research areas related to a wide spectrum of interests and business operations. "Our commitment to the Watt Center will leverage current relationships between Clemson and Comporium and will pave the way for future efforts that take advantage of the talent, infrastructure and distributed operations of both organizations. We have an opportunity to significantly advance education, innovation, and economic development throughout our state," said Comporium CEO, Bryant Barnes.

For more information, see:
- Gift Announcement
- Comporium Website
Scientific Research Corporation
About Us
Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) is an advanced engineering company that was founded in 1988 to provide innovative solutions for complex problems. SRC specializes in developing and fielding advanced electronics and information systems for military and federal customers. Our systems are used on land, air and sea, as well as the cyberspace arena. SRC has grown from a high-tech startup to a recognized leader in the Aerospace and Defense industry with over $300M in revenue and 1,300 people operating in 20 states and in 14 countries. SRC's core values are quality, innovation, customer focus, integrity, growth and diversity, and excellence and teamwork.

Our Gift
As founders and leaders of Scientific Research Corporation, the Watt family understands the challenge and importance of innovation in the American economy. Seeing the need for a strong supply of technically-capable and multi-disciplinary professionals, the Watt family created the vision and provided the foundational funding of $5M to develop the Watt Family Innovation Center. As described by Michael Watt, Chairman and CEO of SRC, "This gift not only creates the opportunity for Clemson students to reach their fullest potential as the next generation of creators and innovators, but it also provides a way for our family to give back to the Clemson community, which has been a fundamental ingredient of our success in business and in life".

For more information, see:
SAS Institute, Inc.
About Us
SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative analytics, business intelligence and data management software and services, SAS helps customers at more than 83,000 sites make better decisions faster. Since 1976, SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW®.

Our Gift
Through a new educational partnership, SAS and Clemson will provide research, software, services and funding to the university’s Watt Family Innovation Center. Thanks to the new partnership, professors, students and researchers can access and apply advanced SAS® Analytics, business intelligence, cybersecurity and data management software toward that mission. SAS also will provide teaching materials, onsite training for faculty and staff, and help developing analytical programs. Professors will be able to easily integrate SAS software into coursework, giving students hands-on experience with this highly marketable skill. In fact, a massive study of 54 million employee profiles on PayScale.com identified "Knowledge of SAS" as the No. 1 career skill that translates into salary bumps.

"The Watt Center brings together students, faculty and industry in a hothouse for learning and research," said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. "With data and analytics at the heart of innovation today, that means Clemson can generate more of the talent in high demand worldwide."

Clemson will receive access to SAS Visual Analytics, the company’s flagship data visualization and exploration tool. SAS Analytics software will help researchers discover the "why?" behind the data by uncovering hidden relationships and trends. Using predictive analytics and forecasting tools, they will dig deeper into "what-if?" and "what next?" In addition, access to SAS Cybersecurity will support teaching and learning about how to detect suspicious network activity and thwart malicious intrusions.

For more information, see: