Columbia, SC--The USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative announced the launch of Phase II of the nationally recognized Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge on October 2, 2007 at the National Hydrogen Association “Hydrogen Uses in the Military” Conference.  With anticipated funding of $500,000 to $1,000,000, the second phase of the challenge will help accelerate the region’s efforts to become the premier destination for hydrogen and fuel cell innovation in the country.  “This project demonstrates how successful collaborations within South Carolina continue to grow our state’s knowledge economy,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO.  “The partnerships assembled under the banner of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge are turning innovative ideas from researchers and companies across the nation into significant economic opportunities, both in the Midlands of South Carolina as well as across the state.”

Challenge will focus on expanding the innovation pipeline

The activities supported by the Fuel Cell Challenge are intended to help create and expand an “innovation pipeline” for fuel cell technology, which include efforts to build a critical mass of research knowledge (the discovery phase), commercialize the fruits of that research in specific applications for product creation and company formation (the development phase), and then create incentives to grow and attract industries into enterprise clusters (the deployment phase).  Potential activities for this new phase of the Challenge will align with these three broad innovation pipeline categories:

Discovery: The focus of the discovery phase will be on creating intellectual property by fostering research partnerships and activities, promoting educational awareness and outreach within the K-12 schools, technical and four-year college and business communities, and incentivizing individuals and groups to direct their talents and imagination toward fuel cell related technology.

Development: The focus of the development phase will be on establishing a local business and entrepreneurial environment conducive to company formation and successful start-up centered on the intellectual property developed at or in partnership with the University of South Carolina.

Deployment: The focus of the deployment phase will be on creating a commercial market for fuel cell products that, in turn, will drive fuel cell industry growth and create an economic “cluster” of fuel cell companies.  This is a long term goal; in the near term the Challenge will focus on demonstrating the largest possible variety of market ready or near market ready fuel cell technologies and applications across the stationary power, portable power and transportation application spectrum, and connecting those demonstrations with the comprehensive “end-to-end” vision for the future of the Columbia region.

Columbia’s Fuel Cell District - An integrated vision

As a focal point for the Fuel Cell Challenge, Columbia’s Fuel Cell District will integrate education and outreach programs, hydrogen production sites, storage and distribution locations, and multiple end-use applications.  The vision for the Fuel Cell District is to assemble the talent and assets required to build a fuel cell cluster that will foster economic prosperity for the region. 

Columbia is an ideal city for the first planned end-to-end Fuel Cell District because it has existing research strengths in fuel cells at the University of South Carolina, the focus and collaboration of the region’s political, business and academic leaders, and adequate resources to implement the vision.  Columbia is in the early stages of a renaissance.  The University of South Carolina is building Innovista, a forward looking research campus that will spread out over 200 acres and combine 5 million square feet of research labs, office space, mixed-use retail and affordable residential housing.  Innovista will connect downtown Columbia to the banks of the Congaree River, where residential and public development already is underway. 

The International Spotlight

The activities of the Fuel Cell Challenge will provide an international showcase for these and other fuel cell technologies, as Columbia gears up for the national and international spotlight as host city for the National Hydrogen Association’s 2009 annual conference.  The conference represents largest and longest running hydrogen conference in the U.S., with more than 1500 representatives from around the world, including significant representation from major energy, automotive, and hydrogen/fuel cell market leaders, expected to attend. 

Building Momentum on Fuel Cell Challenge, Phase I

The initial phase of the fuel cell challenged received national recognition for its innovative approach in addressing the full spectrum of fuel cell technology initiatives.  The initial RFP was issued on July 31, 2006, from which ten awards were funded from the 39 proposals submitted.  Phase I project awards included:  a planning grant to a local children’s museum, a grant to develop and pilot a fuel cell technology curriculum in two South Carolina public school districts, creation of a South Carolina Citizens School for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology, support for the “Green Machine” competition that integrated fuel cell power into the national “FIRST Robotics” competition, development of hybrid battery – fuel cell propulsion system for Segway personal transporters, integration of a stationary power fuel cell into a redevelopment project building at Benedict College, deployment of portable fuel cell technology with first responders at Fort Jackson, SC and in the Columbia Department of Homeland Security, deployment of fuel cell – powered television cameras with the South Carolina Educational Television station, and deployment of two fuel cell – powered fork lifts in six South Carolina warehouse facilities that currently operate battery – powered fork lifts.   “Phase II projects and activities will expand on and leverage the successes of Phase I activities to advance the vision of the fuel cell technology innovation pipeline that will launch our region into a position of leadership within the industry” commented Neil McLean, Executive Director of EngenuitySC, a founding partner in the Fuel Cell Collaborative.   

For more information on the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge, and the Fuel Cell Challenge Phase II Request for Proposals, visit the challenge website at http://www.fuelcellchallenge.com.

About the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge

The purpose of the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge, an initiative of the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, is to collaborate with private sector leaders from all areas of the fuel cell market for the unprecedented deployment of fuel cell and other alternative energy technologies into multiple city, university and commercial applications throughout the region.  http://www.fuelcellchallenge.com

About the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative

The University of South Carolina – City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative was formed by the University of South Carolina, the City of Columbia, EngenuitySC and the South Carolina Research Authority to position Columbia, SC as a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation and technology.  Its mission is to attract private sector partners, top fuel cell scientists, entrepreneurs and innovators to the Columbia region.

About The University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is dedicated to building the knowledge economy in South Carolina by attracting the world’s top professors, scientists, students and entrepreneurs to Columbia, SC.  Through its new Innovation district called Innovista, the University is supporting research initiatives in nanotechnology, health sciences, Future Fuels™, the environment, and information and knowledge technologies.   http://www.sc.edu
 
About The City of Columbia

The City of Columbia is as rich in cultural heritage and history is it is with talent and opportunity.  The City of Columbia is dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge economy in the midlands region through its partnership in the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, its award winning technology incubator, and its commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation.  The city fully supports the creation of a the first integrated fuel cell district in the country and is committed to making Columbia a business friendly environment for innovative companies.  http://www.columbiasc.net

About EngenuitySC

EngenuitySC is an active public/private sector partnership focused on nurturing the growth of a knowledge-based economy in the Columbia, SC region. Comprised of business and industry leaders, along with representatives from local government and academia, EngenuitySC strives to create a fertile business climate that: encourages entrepreneurship and the commercialization of ideas and technology; Harnesses the research breakthroughs of higher education institutions; establishes public policy that is sensitive to the unique needs of knowledge-based companies; Promotes access to start-up investment capital.  Please visit: http://www.engenuitysc.com

About SCRA

SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in Anderson, Charleston, and Columbia.  SCRA collaborates to advance technology with industry, government, and research universities like Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina.  For more information, please visit: http://www.scra.org

About SC Launch!

SC Launch!, an SCRA collaboration, assists entrepreneurial start-up companies with up-front counseling, seed-funding, and access to a powerful resource network. The SC  Launch! mission is to help generate knowledge economy jobs in South Carolina, enhance the state’s quality of life and provide opportunity for all South Carolinians in the new economy.  For more information please visit: http://www.sclaunch.org