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CoEE Endowed Chairs to form "brain trust," hold October 30 conference to help steer S.C. economy toward science and advanced technology
10/28/2009

The state Centers of Economic Excellence (CoEE) Program has produced another tool to help strengthen the state's economy and create high-paying jobs--the collective brainpower of the 22 renowned scientists recruited to South Carolina through the program.

In addition to their work at the state's research universities (University of South Carolina (USC), the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and Clemson University), the CoEE Endowed Chairs will lend their talents to a newly established CoEE Council of Chairs. Through this organization, the chairs will serve as a "brain trust"-providing advice and leadership-for the state on matters related to science and technology and to developing South Carolina's science base and creating high-paying jobs. They will also work together to help guide the overall progress of the CoEE Program and ensure that it is achieving its mission-increasing the presence of high-tech R&D and industry in the state.

The Council of Chairs will hold its first meeting on Friday, October 30, on the USC-Columbia campus. The meeting has three goals: (1) formally establish a CoEE Council of Chairs, (2) identify opportunities and strategic actions for the council to meet its mission and support South Carolina's economy and (3) showcase the scope and impact of the CoEE Program.

The third goal will be accomplished during the afternoon portion of the meeting, which is open to the public. This "CoEE showcase" takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. at USC's Russell House Carolina Theater and will feature a forum on the topic of science and economic development and  presentations by four CoEE Endowed Chairs.

The 22 CoEE Endowed Chairs "represent expertise in a broad range of scientific disciplines and applications and will provide valuable perspectives for developing and strengthening  the state's science base, economy, quality of life and national visibility," says CoEE Chair Dr. Richard Swaja of the  Regenerative Medicine CoEE. "This will be the first time that the endowed chairs will meet as a group to work together to maximize the benefits of the CoEE Program by coalescing statewide resources." Dr. Swaja also serves as the conference chair.

The afternoon "Science and Economic Development Forum" will include a forum with State Representative Gilda Cobb Hunter, Clemson Vice President for Research and Economic Development Chris Przirembel, BMW Department Manager of Media and Public Affairs Bobby Hitt, USC Provost Michael Amiridis and University of North Carolina Vice Chancellor for Research Tony Waldrop. The forum will be moderated by Paula Harper Bethea, who is Chair of the CoEE Review Board.

After the forum, four CoEE Endowed Chairs will give presentations on their current research. These endowed chairs "represent different CoEE Program focus areas-transportation, energy, nanoscience and healthcare," says Swaja.

"The public will learn about the scope, progress and directions of these programs and will hear about impacts on the regional economy, quality of life, the state's science base and our national image."

"We want to ensure that the public is aware of the value of the CoEE Program and of the exciting discoveries and advances that are being made here in South Carolina," he continues.

"We have created the Council of Chairs to take advantage of the intelligence, experience, creativity and vision that the CoEE Endowed Chairs have brought to South Carolina," says Bethea. "We are putting those talents to use to help reshape our economy to one partially based on scientific achievement and knowledge creation, so that we can increase opportunities
for our citizens and better compete in the global economy."

The CoEE Council of Chairs was created in response to a recommendation from a 2009 external review of the CoEE Program by Washington Advisory Group, which suggested that a Council of Chairs be established to provide state leadership in matters related to science and technology. 

That same review found that the CoEE Program has created more than 2,000 jobs in the state and brought more than a quarter billion dollars of non-state money into South Carolina since the program was created by the General Assembly in 2002.

The CoEE showcase will take place on Friday, October 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Russell House Carolina Theater at 1400 Greene Street in Columbia (on the USC campus).

For more information about the event, visit www.sccoee.org/CoEEshowcase.asp.