SCRA - Applied Research and Commercialization Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2011

For more information please contact:
SCRA
Micki Howard
843.760.3329 office
843.697.9226 mobile
micki.howard@scra.org

SCBIO Opens Offices in Columbia and Charleston SCRA Innovation Centers

Charleston, SC – August 22, 2011 – SCRA today announced its newest tenant company, SCBIO. The organization will lease space in the SCRA Innovation Centers located in Charleston and Columbia, SC for business operations.

SCBIO is a member driven trade organization for the South Carolina life science industry and the link to industry collaboration, business opportunities, mentoring, advocacy and support. As the state affiliate of the larger Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), SCBIO serves the industry across the state.

“We are grateful for SCRA’s support of SCBIO as part of its mission to grow the knowledge economy,” said SCBIO President Wayne Roper. “SCBIO is about building partnerships with industry, researchers, and entrepreneurs. And now we can connect with our life sciences partners statewide and grow jobs in the Upstate, Midlands and Lowcountry.”

SCBIO has current operations in the Upstate located at the NEXT Center in Greenville.

The SCRA Innovation Centers are high-tech facilities that SCRA has built in conjunction with its university and civic partners in South Carolina to grow the Knowledge Economy. With these Centers, SCRA has fulfilled legislative requirements identified in the Innovation Centers Act, which focused on the commercialization of new knowledge-based discoveries.

“SCBIO’s locations in close proximity to developing companies will strengthen the Knowledge Economy in South Carolina,” said SCRA CEO Bill Mahoney. “Offering support and services to these start-ups and other SCBIO members will not only create opportunity, but connect important resources to further development of this industry. We are delighted to welcome SCBIO to both our Columbia and Charleston locations.”

SCRA was chartered by the State over 27 years ago as a non-stock, tax-exempt corporation. At its establishment, the State capitalized SCRA with approximately $500,000 and 1,400 acres of undeveloped land in order to develop a technology-based Knowledge Economy in South Carolina. Since that time, SCRA has generated its own revenues, contributed over $13 billion to the state’s economy and helped create over 15,000 technology-related jobs in South Carolina.

About SCRA
http://www.scra.org

SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with its headquarters in South Carolina. SCRA has a dual mission:

To advance the Knowledge Economy - SCRA affiliate SC Launch is an economic development program that helps early-stage companies to commercialize innovations and create jobs. Learn more at www.sclaunch.org.
To deliver technology solutions to complex challenges - SCRA affiliate Advanced Technology International (ATI) leads applied research collaborations that develop technologies to improve the mission effectiveness of Federal agencies and the business execution of Corporations. Learn more at www.ati.org.

In support of both missions, SCRA builds and manages research facilities that include wet labs, secure rooms for sensitive work and advanced, high-tech manufacturing shops.