South Carolina Research Authority

Name

South Carolina Research Authority

Legal name

South Carolina Research Authority

Website

http://www.scra.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Partnership Fund Contributions: SCRA receives contributions from individuals and organizations to the IPF, which provides dollar-for-dollar South Carolina tax credits. These contributions fund coaching, grants, investments, and support for technology startups and academic research and development.
2. Tenant Leases: Revenue from tenant leases in SCRA's innovation centers and facilities located around the state, including wet labs, research facilities, and office spaces.
3. Investment Returns: Returns from investments in high-growth technology startups through SC Launch Inc. Proceeds from exit events (IPOs, mergers, acquisitions) are redeployed as investments in other startups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SCRA is South Carolina's state-chartered, non-profit innovation economy accelerator that provides non-dilutive grants, coaching, investment capital, lab and office facilities, and industry-academia matchmaking to early-stage technology startups and academic institutions across four focus sectors (Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, IT, Life Sciences, and Clean Tech). Its grant portfolio spans Startup, Acceleration, Federal Matching, Academic Matching, SACT, Demonstration, Relocation, and the Tech Catalyst Fund for rural health, while SC Launch Inc. deploys a $15M investment program covering Pre-Seed through Series B rounds.

Product overview

SCRA (South Carolina Research Authority) is a public, non-profit corporation chartered in 1983 that fuels South Carolina's innovation economy by providing a comprehensive ecosystem of support programs for technology startups, academic institutions, and industry. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs: the SCRA Membership Program provides coaching, grant funding access, and startup resources; the Tech Catalyst Fund targets rural healthcare innovation; various grant programs (Startup, Acceleration, Federal Matching, Academic Matching, SACT, Demonstration, Relocation) offer non-dilutive funding at different stages; SC Launch Inc. provides equity investments totaling $15M; Innovation Centers offer facilities leasing; and the Industry Partnership Fund enables tax-credit contributions to sustain the ecosystem. Strategic initiatives include the Center for Cybersecurity, Center for Research Security, and Innovation Hubs Network. SCRA's sector focus spans Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Information Technology, Life Sciences, and Clean Tech/Sustainability/Resilience. The organization recorded $717M economic impact in FY25, supporting 3,772 jobs with $4.7M in awards to companies and academic institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SC Launch Inc. SC Launch Inc. is SCRA's investment affiliate, providing loans and investments to selected South Carolina-based companies participating in the SC Launch program.

Products and services

• SCRA Membership Program Core membership program for South Carolina-based early-stage technology startups, providing coaching and support at MVP, Accelerating, and Scaling stages, plus access to grant funding and SC Launch Inc. investment consideration.
• Startup Grant

Quantifiable outcome

• $717M economic impact on SC innovation economy in FY25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability13 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of South Carolina Columbia Technology IncubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2025SCRA partnered with USC Columbia Technology Incubator (rebranding as The Midlands Innovation X-Change) to fund SCORE South Carolina, sustaining mentorship and education programs for small businesses. SCORE SC helped create 848 new businesses in 2024.
• South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCDHHS contracted with SCRA to administer the Tech Catalyst Fund as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program, focused on prevention and management of chronic diseases in rural communities.
• BoeingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoeing collaborated with Clemson University through SCRA's Industry Solutions program on exoskeleton technology applications in manufacturing, including a Tech Demo Day with ASTM International.
• Trane TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrane Technologies partnered with IoTco (SCRA member) on predictive maintenance AI technologies at their Columbia, SC plant for press machines, motors, and fans.
• BoschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding and technology matchmaking services.
• CaterpillarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding and technology matchmaking services.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding and technology matchmaking services.
• JTEKTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in FSI Advanced Research Inc. collaboration through SCRA's Industry Solutions program.
• MillikenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in SeeDaten collaboration using AR/MR technology for training and instruction.
• Rolls-RoyceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding and technology matchmaking services.
• Spartanburg Regional Health SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare industry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding.
• TerexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner benefiting from SCRA's pilot project funding and technology matchmaking services.
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic partner with multiple collaborations including Boeing exoskeleton research, TIME Bicycles relocation, Clemson Composites Center partnership, and McNair Digital Manufacturing Center at USC Innovation Center.
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner housing the MUSC Innovation Center, InnoVision Awards founding partner, and home to multiple startup companies including MitoChem Therapeutics.
• University of South CarolinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey academic partner hosting the McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research and USC/Columbia Innovation Center.
• Digital SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationFirst-of-its-kind statewide research security partnership deploying Digital Science's Dimensions Research Security solution across seven South Carolina colleges and universities to protect intellectual property and ensure federal research compliance.
• South Carolina Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCRA is a partner with SC Nexus Tech Hub, a federal designation led by SC Department of Commerce. Also partnered on B2B Matchmaker events and economic development initiatives.
• SC Nexus Tech HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal designation and funded collaborative led by South Carolina Department of Commerce with SCRA as a partner.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut Innovations: Connecticut's quasi-public venture capital arm investing in early-stage Connecticut technology companies with similar grant and equity investment programs.
• Ben Franklin Technology Partners: Pennsylvania state-chartered non-profit providing funding, coaching, and facilities to technology startups. Most direct functional analogue to SCRA's state-level innovation accelerator model.
• TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation): State-chartered Maryland entity that funds and supports early-stage technology companies through grants, investments, and advisory services, with a similar public-purpose innovation mandate.
• Georgia Research Alliance: Georgia-based non-profit alliance of universities and industry that recruits eminent scholars, funds research, and commercializes university technology — directly comparable academic-industry model.
• MassTech Collaborative: Massachusetts quasi-public economic development agency that supports innovation, startups, and technology commercialization across sector programs — analogous state-affiliated innovation intermediary.
• Launch Tennessee: State-supported Tennessee entrepreneurship organization providing capital, mentorship, and programming to high-growth startups — comparable state-level accelerator network.

Broad incumbents

• NYSERDA: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority — larger state-chartered authority funding clean energy innovation and commercialization with a similar public-purpose funding and R&D mandate.
• Ohio Third Frontier: Ohio's state technology-based economic development program providing capital and support to tech startups — a wider portfolio state-level innovation funding platform.

Emerging players

• Innovate Carolina: University of North Carolina's innovation hub supporting startups, research commercialization, and industry partnerships — comparable academic-anchored innovation intermediary operating in an adjacent geography.

Others

• Digital Science: Research technology company that partnered with SCRA on the statewide Center for Research Security — adjacent technology partner rather than a direct peer, but provides research security infrastructure analogous to what SCRA deploys across SC institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCRAInnovation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFDMbIS-zR_Nuuju8TH7V3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/scrainnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments180 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Research Authority