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Reed Bolton Byrum, APR
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SCRA SELECTS TWO SC LEADERS FOR KNOWLEDGE ECONOMIST HONORS
MUSC President, Charleston Technology Attorney Recognized for Contributions
CHARLESTON, SC, February 23, 2007 – To promote the growth of the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina and throughout the nation, SCRA® has recognized two leaders for their contributions to South Carolina’s burgeoning Knowledge Economy, which creates high-salaried technology jobs, nurtures new ventures and capital investment, and builds equity in a globalized future.
“Part of SCRA’s role in its dedication to this state’s and this nation’s Knowledge Economy is to recognize those outstanding citizens in our society who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the Knowledge Economy,” SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney said. “The hope of this state’s financial strength is pinioned on a robust and vigorous Knowledge Economy, where the value of the mind shapes the successful profile of progress and great prospects for the future.”
The two leaders were Ray Greenberg, M.D., PhD., president of the Medical University of South Carolina, and Bobby Pearce, an intellectual property attorney and partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.
SCRA’s Mahoney drew on classical roots for his inspiration in creating the SCRA awards: “In history, economists have held multi-faceted roles in our society. They explored the unknown in Homer’s “Odyssey” …they have created societal structures for transactions…they have even invented money and were responsible for creating the first Greek coins. Aristotle once described economists as researchers of ‘the science which has as (its) purpose to help the people to increase their revenue.’ ”
SCRA dedicates itself to collaborating to shape the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina. Since its inception, SCRA has had a total economic impact of more than $6.9 billion and has created more than 15,000 jobs. According to a university study, SCRA’s sustaining contribution should reach annually at least $1.2 billion.
Mahoney recognized the two leaders at the Feb. 23 announcement of the SC Launch!™ investment in CIVISonline, an online software and services company that offers tools and technology for major news media to enhance audience interactivity and “citizen journalism.” CIVISonline was accepted by SC Launch! and has received $75,000 to expand the company.
SCRA praised the following individuals as Knowledge Economists with these words:
Ray Greenberg is “a builder of the Knowledge Economy, who has taken the South’s oldest medical center and has shaped it into one of this nation’s leading health sciences institutions. His vision has built the superstructure for strong operations and aggressive research at MUSC by molding a model for collaboration in the Knowledge Economy. He has combined the strength of MUSC with our state’s research universities and its largest teaching hospitals to advance research and care in the medical sciences. He has strengthened the future with a commitment to research, through MUSC’s garnering over $180 million in annual extramural grants, and recruiting five endowed chairs under the Centers of Economic Excellence program. He has established plans for expanding the physical plant of MUSC to three times its size in the 1990s. Importantly, these plans include five new research buildings that have been developed for children’s health, cancer, drug discovery and development, bioengineering, and clinical research. He has also created a technology platform for MUSC’s future with its digital, clinical information systems.”- Bobby Pearce is “a counselor and leader of the Knowledge Economy in Charleston and our state. He is an outstanding intellectual property attorney and partner with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. He has helped establish and protect new companies in their technology-based business activities. He is a co-founder and editor of the seven-year-old technology newsletter, CyberWatch®. He is a founder and twice chair of ThinkTec, which facilitates start-up companies, grows existing business and attracts new business in the high-tech arenas. He is a member of the South Carolina Council of Competitiveness and of the Research Centers of Excellence Review, which helps oversee the funding of up to $60 million a year for research-related projects and endowed chairs. And in 2004, Governor Sanford honored him as an Economic Development Ambassador.”
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About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in Anderson, Charleston, and Columbia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology with research universities like Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information please visit www.scra.org.
SCRA ® is a registered trademark® of SCRA.
