Photo Courtesy of Robert Clark Photography / Nephron Pharmaceuticals

Innovative Capacity A region’s capacity to support the creation of new ideas, products and processes

200

100

Augusta GA

WinstonSalem, NC

Greensboro NC

Columbia SC

Greenville SC

OVERALL RANKING

OVER TIME 8

5th/10 Research & Development: Funding:

104

102 67

7th/10 Percent of population aged 25 years and older holding a graduate degree

123

U.S. Avg.

75

University and college R&D expenditures per 1,000 people

Academic Achievement:

144

71

SBIR and STTR Awards per 100,000 residents

University Research & Development Expenditures:

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are two of the largest sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization in the United States. They allow US-owned-and-operated small businesses to engage in federal research and development that has a strong potential for commercialization. SBIR awards can be procured directly by small businesses, while STTR awards require formal collaboration with a research institution.

86

Innovation Awards:

8th/10

What are SBIR and STTR awards?

85

The Metrics

Amount awarded from all sources per 1,000 people

7th/10

Knoxville TN

Charleston SC

Tallahassee FL

Lexington KY

Raleigh NC

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019-20

7 th

7 th

7 th

8 th

8 th

7 th

2019-20 Midlands Regional Competitiveness Report