Statewide partners launch inaugural S.C. Innovation Month in April

For the first time, the Palmetto State will highlight its significant contributions in the areas of innovation, technology and entrepreneurship with statewide events and programs, having recently designated April as South Carolina Innovation Month. 

This effort was the brainchild of three founding network partners – MUSC, the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) and the South Carolina Department of Commerce – with a goal of celebrating discovery and sustainable economic growth through innovation while creating a collaborative infrastructure among the state’s entrepreneurial community and stakeholders.

The month-long celebration kicks off on April 3 at the South Carolina Statehouse with a S.C. Innovation Month proclamation to be read by Gov. Henry McMaster, who will be flanked by S.C. lawmakers, members of the state’s innovation community, entrepreneur leaders, startup founders, investors and other supporters. Throughout the month, various programs and conferences will be offered.

The concept is modeled after other successful innovation week celebrations established in other markets, such as Launch Tennessee, a partnership that supports entrepreneurship around the state, and Atlanta Innovation Week, which highlights achievements within the Atlanta innovation community. 

MUSC, where innovation has long been at the core of its mission, has annually celebrated Innovation Week since 2018, with a popular weeklong series of events. The idea of collaborating and connecting efforts with the founding partners and other statewide organizations to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurial successes seemed like a natural next step, according to Adrianne Grimes, director of marketing and communications with SCRA.  

 

“Establishing a monthlong statewide event made sense and provides more flexibility around other founding partner’s standing celebrations like MUSC Innovation Week and other scheduled programs. It will give founders, partners and the state’s entrepreneurial community an opportunity to attend and support statewide events on the schedule,” said Grimes. 

MUSC chief innovation officer Jesse Goodwin, Ph.D. is excited about the culture of innovation that is sweeping the state. “The growth of innovation over the years across South Carolina, especially around the Charleston region, has been pretty incredible. We don’t want innovation to be the state’s best kept secret. It starts by telling your story within your own family and community, and that’s what we did with MUSC Innovation Week,” she explained.

“For MUSC to be a founding member and first organization to host a weeklong celebration highlighting innovation is a testament to how we’ve set the stage to make it truly foundational and allow ourselves to be a catalyst for innovation in the region. South Carolina Innovation Month is an opportunity to showcase broader initiatives from across the state. South Carolina is growing a strong culture of innovation. It’s exciting to be able to shine a light on the entire state for innovation and consider how far we’ve come collectively,” said Goodwin.

MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, is a long-time proponent of influence and impact through innovation. "MUSC is honored to serve as a founding partner in creating Innovation Month for the state of South Carolina," said Cole. "Innovation is woven throughout our institutional DNA, and it fuels our commitment to transforming patient care, providing excellent health sciences education and pursuing research discoveries that have impact for generations. South Carolinians can trust that at MUSC, our work will push the boundaries of what’s possible and enable a brighter, healthier future for all."

Also to be featured in the April 3 statehouse event will be a celebration of discoveries – products all made in South Carolina. The gathering will feature successful statewide startups and entrepreneurs who will demonstrate their products and share their own stories. Among them will be:

• Bubble Paper – A high-performing, eco-friendly cushion wrap packaging product that’s an alternative to using plastic wrap packaging for shipping products.
• Integrated Biometrics-Spartanburg – Manufacturer of identification security products used by the FBI and other federal agencies that features digital fingerprint scanners, touchless mobile identity devices, facial recognition technology and related software.
• DARI Motion-Capture System – FDA-approved technology featuring high-speed cameras, motion-capture technology and cloud processing software that assesses an individual’s flexibility and movements. South Carolina is one of four U.S. locations to have this.
• Blinkcns Inc. – FDA-cleared non-evasive technology that uses an eye scanner to measure a person’s natural blink reflex and eye tracking. This technology can be used to screen for nervous system disorders or eye diseases or measure the effects of head injury. 

A valuable tool that will help to connect innovation partners and the entrepreneurial community around the state for the purposes of sharing ideas, introducing products and promoting events and activities will be a dedicated S.C. Innovation website. Network partners will have the ability to submit information and events on a calendar while anyone can learn about statewide innovation initiatives and projects.

Looking ahead, Goodwin, Grimes and other network partners agree that they’d like to see South Carolina become a national model for celebrating innovation. As S.C. Innovation Month grows in popularity and support, Grimes hopes that it will attract its own funding and investors. “Right now, it’s a platform where everyone can grow their own projects and efforts. In the future, we’re hoping it continues to grow and develop so South Carolina becomes a well-known state for innovation,” Grimes said.

For more information and statewide Innovation Month activities, visit the S.C. Innovation website.