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