Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
SCRA reports investment surge, launches AI consortium and a research security center
Loading...
Summary
The South Carolina Research Authority said it has accelerated investments in startups, is expanding AI and cybersecurity programs statewide and announced a new center for research security that it described as the state's first; the authority is self-funding operations for now but may request operating funds next year.
Bill Kirkland, interim president and CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority, told the committee the authority has streamlined its organization and increased investments, reporting more than $3 million invested in startups in the current fiscal year and $4.7 million funded to companies in the previous fiscal year. Kirkland said SCRA’s portfolio companies have attracted roughly $3 billion in follow‑on funding since inception and that the average salary at those companies is about $91,000.
Kirkland highlighted new initiatives including an AI consortium and an online program that has seen strong statewide uptake. He also announced a center for research security, describing it as the first such center in South Carolina and saying it will support universities and industry in protecting research and intellectual property. "We just announced ... the first ever center for research security in South Carolina," he said.
Kirkland said SCRA is currently self‑funded and does not have a budget request for this session but anticipates returning next year with a modest operating request if needed. He offered individual briefings for lawmakers and said SCRA will continue partnering with universities and industry on cyber and AI use cases.
