| A Letter From the Director |
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Every great collaboration starts with a conversation. At the South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance at SC Competes (the Alliance), those conversations bring together companies, colleges and universities, and research experts to solve real-world challenges and create new opportunities for innovation. This newsletter is an extension of those conversations, highlighting the people, projects, and progress shaping the future of applied research in South Carolina. We hope it not only keeps you informed, but also sparks new ideas, new partnerships, and new opportunities to work together. As summer winds down and students head back to campus, we’re reminded of the energy and momentum that a new season brings. It’s a time when fresh ideas take shape, new partnerships begin, and collaboration accelerates. We’re excited to see what South Carolina’s companies, colleges and universities, and research communities will accomplish together in the months ahead. We’re already seeing the impact of these collaborations through the Alliance. Projects are advancing in areas such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences, energy resilience, and next-generation materials, helping organizations solve real-world challenges, bring new ideas to market, and strengthen South Carolina’s position as a leader in innovation. Thank you for your interest in the Alliance. We look forward to sharing the stories, opportunities, and successes that continue to move South Carolina forward. And please let us know if you would like to discuss an applied research opportunity for your organization. We’d love to hear from you. Advancing South Carolina together,
Kelly Baird Director of SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance, SC Competes
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| | | | | Want to learn more about how The Alliance works and the impact it’s making across South Carolina? Explore our new FAQs to learn how the program works, who’s eligible, how projects are funded, and what the collaboration process looks like. |
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| | Where We’ve Been This Year |
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The Alliance has been on the move this year, connecting with industry leaders, researchers, educators, and innovators across South Carolina. Here are a few highlights from recent events our team has attended:
At the BMW Supplier Reception and Supplier Exchange, Kelly Baird and Marcel Schaefer met with suppliers and manufacturers from around the world. They shared what makes South Carolina’s program with Fraunhofer USA—the only one of its kind in the country—so unique while connecting with leaders in the state’s largest industry cluster.
At MX.0 Southeast, Marcel joined Peterson Lindo of BMW to present the AI-Driven Inspection for Spot Weld project. Their presentation showed how industry and research can come together to create practical solutions for advanced manufacturing. The team also attended panels about the opportunities and challenges of bringing new technologies into organizations.
SC Bio Demo Day gave the Alliance team an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, researchers, and organizations from across South Carolina’s fast-growing life sciences sector and learn more about the technologies emerging in the field. We are seeing a lot of momentum for Alliance projects in the life sciences industry, and look forward to sharing some of those results with you in later newsletters!
At the European American Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. Economic Outlook 2026 presentation, Alliance team members enjoyed remarks from Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey and research economist Joey Von Nessen, who shared updates on employment trends and the population growth helping drive South Carolina’s economy. Population growth is driving increased demand for next-generation logistics technologies and advanced energy infrastructure, two areas where the Alliance is already collaborating with South Carolina companies as well as the SC Nexus EDA Tech Hub.
The team also attended the NextGen Innovation Exchange, which highlighted South Carolina’s innovation ecosystem and provided opportunities for enterprise-level leaders to connect with early-stage organizations addressing real business priorities. These connections are an important part of the innovation pipeline—and an area where the SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance can help turn promising conversations into action by connecting companies with research expertise and matching funding to test, validate, and advance new technologies toward commercial adoption.
Each stop gave our team the chance to learn something new, share the Alliance’s work, and connect with people helping shape South Carolina’s future. We look forward to seeing where those conversations lead. |
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| | Applied Research in Action |
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South Carolina continues to grow, with companies investing, expanding, and creating jobs across the state. In 2025 alone, South Carolina announced $9.12 billion in capital investment and more than 8,100 new jobs. Keeping that momentum going means helping businesses find better ways to work, adopt new technologies, and stay competitive. That’s where applied research can make a difference. It starts with a real-world challenge and works toward a solution a company can actually use. For manufacturers, that might mean improving automation, materials, quality, or productivity. Manufacturing already employs nearly 14% of South Carolina’s private-sector workforce, making continued innovation especially important. Applied research also creates opportunities in life sciences, the state’s fastest-growing industry sector, where more than 1,000 companies support over 87,000 jobs. Energy resilience is another important piece of South Carolina’s growth. The state uses more than twice the energy it produces, and industry accounts for 30% of statewide energy use. Applied research can help businesses improve efficiency, manage costs, and build cleaner, more reliable operations. The Alliance brings the right people and expertise together to make that work happen. Managed by SC Competes, with support from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Fraunhofer USA, the Alliance connects companies with colleges, universities, and researchers to turn tough challenges into practical solutions. Our work with TIME Bicycles shows what that can look like in action. |
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| | A Focus on Fraunhofer USA |
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| Automotive manufacturing and battery technologies have long been important areas of focus for the Alliance, with both funded projects and technical symposiums highlighting South Carolina’s assets in both sectors. The Alliance also connects South Carolina to the broader capabilities of Fraunhofer USA’s global research network. Below are two examples where technology from Fraunhofer USA and global Fraunhofer Centers are powering bold innovation right here in South Carolina, even outside of Alliance-funded projects. |
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| Deep Orange 17 unveiled at Clemson’s CU-ICAR, August 6, 2026 |
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Clemson University recently unveiled Deep Orange 17, a solar-integrated, energy-positive electric vehicle prototype developed in collaboration with BMW and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Breisgau, Germany.
The vehicle integrates more than 1,700 photovoltaic cells directly into its exterior surfaces, leveraging advanced Fraunhofer ISE solar technology that continues generating power even when portions of the panels are shaded. Weighing just 1,212 pounds, the lightweight coupe is designed to produce more energy than it consumes during a typical day of urban commuting. Deep Orange 17 will be featured at the 2027 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Read more >> |
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| Rendering of the USC Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation |
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| Fraunhofer USA expertise is helping to anchor a major advanced energy ecosystem in South Carolina. The University of South Carolina’s Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation (CIBI) is partnering with Fraunhofer USA, linking the state to the global Fraunhofer network, specifically the Competence Center for Battery Cell Production. The new CIBI center advances battery technology across full scale, from nanoscale materials research to grid-scale storage, while focusing on energy density, lifespan, safety, and recyclability.
Through pilot-scale manufacturing capabilities for pouch, cylindrical, and prismatic cells, the institute allows researchers and industry partners to test innovations under realistic production conditions. By combining research, education, and workforce development with Fraunhofer USA’s international battery industrialization expertise, CIBI is strengthening South Carolina’s role in transatlantic energy transition.
Read more >> |
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| | Alliance Project Spotlight: TIME Bicycles – Building the Future of Carbon Fiber Manufacturing |
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When TIME Bicycles chose South Carolina for its first U.S. manufacturing facility, the company wasn’t just looking for a place to build bikes—it was looking for partners that could help push manufacturing technology even further. Through the Alliance, TIME partnered with Clemson University, KraussMaffei, and Fraunhofer USA to modernize its proprietary resin transfer molding process, making production faster, more efficient, and more scalable while maintaining the premium quality TIME is known for. For CEO Tony Karklins, those partnerships were a key reason for choosing South Carolina. Watch the video to hear Tony share how collaboration through the Alliance is helping redefine advanced manufacturing and why South Carolina has become an important part of TIME’s future. |
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| | Save the Date: Decoded & Tech Talk Are Back! |
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| Technology and logistics are evolving faster than ever—and this event is where those conversations come together. SC Decoded + SC Logistics Tech Talk will bring together business leaders, technology professionals, supply chain executives, researchers, and policymakers to explore the innovations shaping South Carolina’s future. From artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to automation, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain technology, attendees will gain practical insights, discover emerging solutions, and connect with the leaders driving innovation across the state. Interested in sponsoring, exhibiting, speaking, or participating in the Tech Showcase? We’d love to hear from you. Learn more here. |
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| | Looking to learn more about artificial intelligence? Alliance Director Kelly Baird recommends SC Competes’ AI in the AM series, which features practical discussions with industry leaders on how AI is transforming business, manufacturing, logistics, and education. The full series is available on demand—perfect for catching up, learning something new, or revisiting your favorite sessions. Watch the AI in the AM Series here. |
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| | | Let’s Start the Conversation! One of the best parts of the Alliance is building connections across South Carolina’s innovation ecosystem. Alliance Director Kelly Baird and Fraunhofer USA’s Marcel Schaefer are excited to share more about the Alliance and explore opportunities for collaboration.
If you’d like to learn more about how applied research can support your organization or discuss potential opportunities to work together, we’d love to continue the conversation.
Contact Kelly Baird | Contact Marcel Schaefer |
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