Staff Report
Published Aug. 15, 2011

More than a dozen companies and groups have signed leases for space in Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research’s Center for Emerging Technologies.

The new center provides office, administrative and laboratory space for the transportation, technology and energy sectors. It is meant as a site for emerging or established companies to expand, develop and commercialize technologies that complement Clemson research.

Bob Geolas, CU-ICAR executive director and associate vice president for economic development at Clemson, said having companies signed on for 85% of the building’s space during a difficult economy is testament to CU-ICAR’s reputation.

“CU-ICAR is a community that helps companies make connections and build relationships,” Geolas said in a news release. “The Center for Emerging Technologies is the embodiment of that business model, and we are eager to see our newest partners flourish.”

The 60,000-square-foot center is in the heart of CU-ICAR’s campus on property adjacent to the AutoPark. The construction of the $11 million center is nearing completion and tenants are expected to be able to move in this month.

The Clemson University Real Estate Foundation received $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration and a $740,000, zero-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Office/Lab Tenants as of Aug. 11:

• Fields Group LLC — 2,437 square feet
• Clemson Computing and Information Technology — 4,275 square feet
• Sage Automotive Interiors — 16,271 square feet
• MTC Federal Credit Union — 1,983 square feet
• SCRA — 1,115 square feet
• Focus Chemical — 2,719 square feet

Technology Cafe Tenants as of Aug. 11:

• Cadfem U.S. Inc. — two private offices, one open office
• L&L Products — one private office
• Cooliemon Technologies Inc. — one private office
• Mallett Technology Inc. — one open office
• InnoVenture LLC — one private office