1	University of South Carolina Taking a leading role in Economic Development
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3	USC businessLINK was created in October 2003 from five existing resources:
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5	What’s the benefit to you? USC businessLINK streamlines your access to faculty, staff, facilities and support services! One call One click No delays No hassles No red tape
6	USC businessLINK designed to support: Small to medium manufacturers (CMAT) Technology start-up companies (USC Columbia Technology Incubator) Entrepreneurial/ Small business community (USC SBDC) R&D Outsourcing (Industrial Agreements Unit) Technology acquisition (Intellectual Property Office)
7	Center for Manufacturing and Technology Provides valuable technological, workplace, business and training solutions to smaller South Carolina manufacturers Utilizes USC facilities and the expertise of USC faculty, students, and staff at a cost savings to the these clients Expands clients’ operational effectiveness, and helps them gain higher levels of competitiveness
8	Industrial Agreements Unit Supports industrially sponsored programs and research with dedicated staff to negotiate: Research Agreements Master/Umbrella Agreements SBIR/STTR Agreements Intellectual Property Allocation Agreements Material Transfer Agreements Non-Disclosure Agreements Clinical Trial Agreements Teaming Agreements
9	USC Columbia Technology Incubator Home to student and non-student companies, and “Landing Parties” (established companies relocating to South Carolina or opening office in Columbia) Requires a close working relationship with USC or Midlands Technical College Provides opportunity for USC faculty, staff, and students to commercialize their ideas
10	USC Small Business Development Center Provides generally fee-free business counseling: to existing business owners to those wishing to start a business One-on-one consultation Special interest seminars Information referral services Supported with federal, state, and private funds
11	Intellectual Property Office Supports USC’s intellectual property portfolio with: Technology Assessments Commercialization Planning/Implementation Intellectual Property Protection and Management Intellectual Assets and Resources Marketing Invention Disclosure Management License Negotiation & Management
12	USC businessLINK is the right resource for today’s business environment Trends - More companies outsourcing R&D Expertise - Faculty possess specialized skills/talents Workforce - Growth firms need trained workers Equipment Needs - Companies do not want to buy expensive, rarely used instrumentation Culture - Companies want to locate in areas with strong culture cultural environment.
13	USC businessLINK supports South Carolina Competitiveness Initiative Harvard Professor Michael Porter's study on South Carolina's competitive posture calls for increased support for start-ups and local firms, creation of new institutions focused on upgrading the local business environment, and more investments in research. USC businessLINK supports all of these initiatives
14	How are we doing that? Marketing USC’s vast resources to the business and economic development communities Streamlining the business and economic development connection to those USC resources Increasing USC’s public-private partnerships
15	What have we done so far? Worked with almost 5,000 clients Helped create or save more than 5,400 jobs Supported business investments statewide totaling Over $207.4 million Received over $32.6 million in industrial sponsored research revenue and almost $1.3 million in royalties
16	What are we doing right now? Working with more than 100 businesses up and down the East coast (including Fortune 500 manufacturers, individual entrepreneurs, and venture capital firms) Working with State agencies Working on lean manufacturing, marketing and business development, capacity utilization, technology transfer, R & D, etc.
17	What are we going to do going forward? Strengthen public attitudes about USC’s support for area business community and economic development efforts Provide research, development and support services, and resources that can produce a higher level of business competitiveness Enhance private sector recruitment efforts
18	You’ve got business challenges. We’ve got business solutions. Toll-free at 1-866-756-2883 www.uscbusinesslink.com