In a new round of funding announced by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the University of South Carolina will receive $10.2 million for its efforts to advance battery research.
The funding is for the forthcoming Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation , which will be directed by battery expert William Mustain, a professor and associate dean for research in the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing , according to a university news release.
Public and private investment in battery research is surging in South Carolina, and USC is in on that surge.
“Companies tell me this all the time if you want to learn more about battery chemistry, battery assembly and battery safety, you come to the University of South Carolina,” Mustain said in the news release.
The $10.2 million funding for USC is part of an overall award of $45 million for SC Nexus , a statewide consortium of partners working to improve the clean energy supply chain and develop cyber-secure grid resilience technologies. SC Nexus is managed by the South Carolina Department of Commerce .
In an initial competition, the U.S. Economic Development Administration designated 31 official Tech Hubs out of nearly 400 applicants. Of the 31 designees, SC Nexus is one of 12 that were awarded funding in the July 2 Phase 2 announcement.
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The University of South Carolina is a founding member of the SC Nexus consortium, which includes more than 50 members and several core partners. Core partners include Clemson University , Savannah River National Laboratory , South Carolina Council on Competitiveness , South Carolina State University and the South Carolina Technical College System .
USC’s role in SC Nexus underscores the university’s position as an economic engine for the state of South Carolina, driving innovation and workforce development to move the state forward, the release stated. Geographically, SC Nexus’ efforts will encompass the Midlands and Upstate regions, as well as surrounding counties such as Aiken and Orangeburg. Of the long-term jobs created by SC Nexus’ efforts, the consortium aims to source 40% of those jobs from underserved and rural communities.
“USC is proud to work alongside S.C. Commerce in this statewide effort and to have a leadership role in developing a new community of researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups,” USC President Michael Amiridis said in the release. “Achieving recognition at a national level demonstrates our ability as a state to innovate and to bring new ideas to the market. Our very strong coalition of universities and industry and state partners demonstrates how much we can achieve when we work together.”
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