INNOVATE® South Carolina

Innovations of the World

INNOVATE® South Carolina

Introducing INNOVATE® South Carolina: Celebrating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Palmetto State

INNOVATE® South Carolina is the latest addition to the globally recognized INNOVATE® series by Innovations of the World, dedicated to showcasing the remarkable innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of South Carolina. Known for its rich history, scenic beauty, and Southern charm, South Carolina is also emerging as a vibrant hub for cutting-edge innovation, technological advancements, and entrepreneurial success.

The INNOVATE® series is a high-quality coffee table book and digital platform that celebrates the visionaries, trailblazers, and game-changers shaping the future of various regions across the globe. INNOVATE® South Carolina will capture the essence of this dynamic state, highlighting its thriving ecosystems in industries such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace, and clean energy, as well as its flourishing startup culture. From established corporations driving large-scale innovation to nimble startups disrupting industries, this project will shine a spotlight on the people, companies, and organizations pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in South Carolina.

Through engaging stories, expert insights, and beautiful visuals, INNOVATE® South Carolina will present a unique perspective on the state’s innovative ecosystem. This project is a celebration of the entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders who are not only driving local economic growth but also making an impact on a global scale.

Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or simply someone passionate about innovation, INNOVATE® South Carolina will offer an inspiring look at the transformative ideas and ventures that are defining the future of the Palmetto State. Join us as we explore and celebrate South Carolina’s innovation story!

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Thought Leaders

Featured Innovators

Featured Innovators

TCTC

PARTNERSHIPS TRANSFORM LIVES, BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES

The successes of Tri-County Technical College over the past 63 years area testament to the power of the strong relationships and partnerships the College shares with business, industry, and educators in the community. These relationships and partnerships transform the lives of TCTC students and help to build stronger communities. Health...

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)

From Ideas to Impact: MUSC’s Culture of Innovation.

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) serves as the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, dedicated to preserving and optimizing human life in South Carolina through education, research, and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students across six colleges—Dental Medicine, Graduate...

MASC

Celebrating 100 Years of Excellence: The Maritime Association of South Carolina’s Journey into the Future.

The Maritime Association of South Carolina (MASC) is proud to celebrate a century of service to the maritime community in 2026. For almost 100 years, MASC has been at the heart of South Carolina’s dynamic maritime industry, forging strong connections, advancing critical issues & paving the way for a prosperous...

MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE

YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM HERE

150+ Programs Eight Schools of Study make up a curriculum that is continously reviewed and optimized to meet workforce demand. Students are known by their name, not a number, with an average class size of 17. Over $150,000 in Scholarships Affordable tuition ensures students can complete their programs without substantial...

Software Projects Consulting

Driving Excellence Through ERP: The Story of a Visionary Company

Founded in 2000 and officially incorporated in 2005, Software Projects Consulting is the realization of an ambitious vision by its founder, Frank Muehlenkamp. Frank sought to create something unique—a company driven by an innovative symbiosis of Engineering and Business principles and methodologies to yield innovative and highly effective results to...

Lockheed Martin

Local Roots, Global Impact

For more than 40 years, Lockheed Martin has proudly called Greenville, South Carolina home, embedding deep local roots while contributing to global security. Known as the “Global Home of the F-16” and proud winner of “The Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina,” the site produces the F-16 Block 70/72 –...

Credo Software

A Marriage of Creative & Technical Skills

In the heart of South Carolina, a tech company named Credo Software has been quietly making its mark for over two decades. Founded by Sarah and Kevin Curnow on principles of trust, adaptability, and community, Credo’s story is one of innovation, perseverance, and a commitment to helping clients do what...

QUERRI

CHARLESTON-BASED AI SOFTWARE COMPANY DISRUPTING DATA CULTURE

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace, businesses face a crucial dilemma – either harness the power of AI-driven insights or risk being left behind. For too long, the world of data has been dominated by complexity, requiring specialized technical skills that keep decision-makers...

Clemson University

A national leader in automotive and advanced manufacturing.

Clemson University stands at the forefront of automotive and manufacturing innovation, serving as a vital asset for both research and workforce development for South Carolina’s economic engine. Clemson is home, for example, to the nation’s only graduate program in automotive engineering, offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees that prepare students to...

DIG SOUTH

BUILDING THE SOUTH’S TECH FUTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

In 2012, with two young children at home and a bold vision for the South’s untapped potential, Stanfield Gray and his wife, Sunny Gray, launched DIG SOUTH in Charleston, South Carolina. They were driven by a simple question: Why should a child from the South have fewer opportunities than a...

Dartpoints

Building the Backbone: Dartpoints' Mission to Distribute High-Density Computing and Distributed Infrastructure

DartPoints is transforming South Carolina’s digital economy through innovative strategies that combine high-density computing with edge data infrastructure. By focusing on optimizing data center performance and placing resources where they are needed most, DartPoints empowers businesses, municipalities, and institutions to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. “Our mission is to...

BENEDICT COLLEGE

Pioneering an Entrepreneurial Revolution

In the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, Benedict College is redefining the landscape of higher education by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. At the forefront of this transformation is the Burroughs Enterprise, Startup, and Technology (B.E.S.T.) Innovation Lab, a dynamic hub that empowers students, faculty, and entrepreneurs to...

McNair Aerospace

USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

The McNAIR Aerospace Center, in partnership with the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, engages university students in innovative, industry-led research in fields such as artificial intelligence, cyber security, automation, 3D printing, and materials manufacturing. This world-class, hands-on education, along with our commitment to cutting-edge innovation, actively creates leaders...

Fusion Cyber

HUMAN LED, AI POWERED.

HUMAN LED, AI POWERED. Founded in 2021, Fusion Cyber has grown from a small start-up to are cognized leader in cybersecurity education. It has partnerships with fourw ell-known universities: the University of South Carolina, the University of Kentucky, Florida International University, and Denmark Technical College. Fusion Cyber offers cutting-edge courses...

SC Thrive

Celebrating 15 Years of Leadership, Impact, and Innovation.

Over the past 15 years, SC Thrive has served as our state’s leader in linking South Carolinians with community and essential resources. In partnership with the Palmetto Institute, the BlueCross BlueShield of SC Foundation, and The Duke Endowment, SC Thrive began as a program of the SC Office of Rural...

ROLLS-ROYCE SOLUTIONS AMERICA

Building Innovation That Powers the World

Located in Graniteville, South Carolina, just off Interstate 20, Rolls-Royce’s mtu Aiken plant stands as a beacon of advanced manufacturing, workforce development, community commitment and clean energy leadership. Since opening its doors in 2010, the facility has grown from a promising assembly plant to a cornerstone of innovation, producing and...

Furman University

Furman’s Center for Innovative Leadership: Shaping Leaders, Sparking Innovation.

Furman University, consistently recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities, made a decisive move in 2023 by launching the Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL). Building on Furman’s mission to build lifelong learners who lead lives of meaning and consequence, its reputation for producing high-potential leaders and the Hill Institute for...

South Coast Cyber Center

Empowering Individuals, the Business Community, and Government with the Skills and Knowledge to Navigate the Increasingly Complex World of Cybersecurity.

The South Coast Cyber Center, a nonprofit located in Beaufort, South Carolina, is an integral player in the region’s technology ecosystem, offering a collaborative approach to education, training, and economic development. The work of the Cyber Center focuses on empowering individuals, the business community, and government with the skills and...

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

THE OLDEST INSTITUTION IN SOUTH CAROLINA REMAINS THE BOLDEST IN EMBRACING INNOVATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

The College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public university located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1770 and rooted in the liberal arts and sciences, the College of Charleston is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. The College of...

IT-oLogy

Promote. Teach. Grow.

USC and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina partnered with IBM in December 2008 to form the Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management. The Consortium was formed in part to encourage young people to learn the skills needed to manage enterprise systems, large-scale computers that process high volume transactions. Since its inception,...

Drobot

Human-Centered Automation, Born in South Carolina

In a manufacturing world grappling with worker shortages, rising costs, and the relentless complexity of “high-mix, low-volume” production, one Greenville-based startup is quietly reimagining what it means for humans and robots to work together. Drobot Inc. is pioneering a new generation of Collaborative Mobile Robots (CMRs) – machines designed not...

BrightMa Farms

Building a Circular Ecosystem for Climate-Smart Innovation

From seed to system, BrightMa Farms has redefined what it means to grow innovation from the ground up. Founded by visionary entrepreneur Harold Singletary, BrightMa Farms, Inc. has emerged as one of South Carolina’s most dynamic AgTech enterprises — a company transforming agricultural waste into climate-smart, high-value materials that serve...

Catch Talent

We focus on understanding the career needs of individuals in the workforce.

Real Relationships Matter Catch Talent is a high-touch recruiting agency that delivers end-to-end talent acquisition solutions to growing technology, financial services, healthcare, digital & creative, professional services, and government contracting companies. Headquartered in Charleston, SC, Catch specializes in the full talent attraction life cycle by sourcing and recruiting qualified candidates...

DC BLOX

DRIVING DIGITAL INNOVATION AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Every morning, the sun rises over a small, unassuming building nestled near the shores of Myrtle Beach. From the outside, it could be anything—a warehouse, a power station, just another part of the city’s horizon. But inside, this facility is something extraordinary: a new kind of port, not for ships...

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The Publisher

Glen Edwards

Glen Edwards was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University and served in the United States Marine Corps Services. For the next 10 years, Glen worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Philadelphia, counseling underprivileged children in North and West Philadelphia. In 1983, Glen left the court and went to work... click to read more

The Publisher

Glen Edwards

Glen Edwards was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University and served in the United States Marine Corps Services. For the next 10 years, Glen worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer in Philadelphia, counseling underprivileged children in North and West Philadelphia. In 1983, Glen left the court and went to work... click to read more

Other Ecosystems