FEV, Inc., locating within Clemson University’s Energy Systems Innovation Center in North Charleston

FEV, Inc., (FEV) a subsidiary of Germany-based, FEV GmbH, a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle system technologies, is one of the first companies to establish operations within the Energy Systems Innovation Center at theClemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) in North Charleston. The undisclosed investment is expected to generate at least seven new jobs, which will support FEV’s traditional capabilities, including design, analysis, prototyping, and system development. FEV also plans to leverage its expertise in the development and testing of in-vehicle systems and vehicle connectivity technologies, including infotainment and telematics systems.

“The North Charleston facility will provide a great deal of exposure to a wide variety of industries,” said FEV, Inc.’s acting CEO Dr. Patrick Hupperich. “We believe this is a strategic location that creates an FEV engineering center of excellence in the Southeast to serve our customers in the region. It will also provide a launch point for business development and relationship building activities with both current and potential customers, including those beyond our traditional service areas, such as aerospace, manufacturing, and advanced materials.”

“FEV, Inc.’s decision to locate its operations in North Charleston proves once again that South Carolinians know how to make quality and advanced products that are used around the globe,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “This research and development center not only provides a boost to the region’s innovation sector, but also solidifies South Carolina’s place in the nation’s manufacturing renaissance.”

“FEV’s state-of-the-art technology is being used by automotive leaders throughout the world. The company’s presence at Clemson University’s new innovation center is a great step toward growing South Carolina’s knowledge-based economy with high tech and high-paying jobs,” said Secretary Bobby Hitt.

FEV’s presence in the Charleston region will allow it to be in proximity to customers in South Carolina specifically, and in the Southeast generally, which is a rapidly expanding hub of automotive, energy, and defense-related companies that FEV has supported for many years. It also creates opportunities to explore partnerships with other technology companies that have located in the area. Operations are expected to commence in late November, following the dedication of the world’s most advanced wind turbine drivetrain testing facility and smart grid simulator at the Restoration Institute on November 21.

John Kelly, Clemson University vice president for economic development, said “FEV’s partnership with Clemson and the Energy Systems Innovation Center underscores the value of public-private partnerships, particularly those between higher education institutions and innovative technology firms. We both believe strongly in research and collaboration. This partnership has the potential to grow far beyond this initial commitment. It isn’t just about companies coming here, it’s also about ideas coming here. FEV will bring talented engineers to the Charleston region, and we hope this initial step is just the beginning.”

“I am honored to welcome FEV to the City of North Charleston,” said Mayor Keith Summey. “It is our pledge to maintain an environment that is business friendly to foster creativity and growth in the marketplace. FEV continues to push the envelope of technology and innovation in automotive and drivetrain research and fit perfectly within CURI’s Energy Systems Innovation Center. We look forward to FEV’s future developments and extension of their capabilities and applications into additional industry fields in the Charleston region.”

“Congratulations to FEV as they establish their new office in North Charleston,” said Teddie Pryor, chairman of Charleston County Council. “Our hats are also off to Clemson University for their hard work to bring their research partner FEV to the Energy Systems Innovation Center. The discoveries they make together in the coming years at this state-of-the-art facility will pave the way for energy systems advancements that will benefit a host of industries and other power users. Charleston County feels very privileged to host FEV, and will do everything possible to partner with them and with Clemson throughout the years to come.”

“This is an historic and exciting time for our region,” said Bob Whitten, Charleston Regional Development Alliance board chairman. “We’ve been talking with FEV for some time about the competitive advantages the Charleston region offers. The presence of the world’s most advanced drivetrain testing facility in our market, coupled with our educational assets, customized training programs, and our supply of highly-skilled workers were critical factors in FEV’s decision to be one of the first companies to locate on Clemson’s Energy Systems Campus. The company will be a tremendous asset to our community for many years to come.”

About FEV

The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. The FEV Group employs a staff of over 2,600 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents. FEV, Inc. employs over 450 personnel in its North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.

Agilex Opening Office in Lowcountry Innovation Center on former Navy Yard

Recently Named Government Contractor of the Year Expands to Charleston to Support SPAWAR and Other Strategic Clients

In a statement released this morning, the Lowcountry Innovation Center announced that Agilex Technologies, Inc., a Chantilly, VA-based company, will be opening a new office at the center. The company is an employee-owned provider of mission and technology solutions to the national security, healthcare and public sectors.

Agilex’ North Charleston presence will support the company’s growing relationship, as a SeaPort-e contract holder, with the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). The office will provide management and support for large systems engineering projects and will offer dedicated expertise in the use of agile software development methodologies within major government organizations.

Founded in 2007, Agilex has witnessed explosive growth with an impressive client list of federal, state and local governments. Recently, the company was named a 2011 Greater Washington Government Contractor of the Year. In 2010, the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) also honored Agilex as the organization’s “Hottest Emerging Government Contractor”. The Washington Business Journal has ranked the company “# 1” (2010) and “# 12” (2011) on its annual list of the Washington region’s fastest growing companies. As part of CRN’s Fast Growth 100 List, Agilex was also named the 19th fastest growing solution provider in North America for 2011.

“Agilex is a stellar addition to North Charleston’s growing list of technology-based companies,” says Mayor R. Keith Summey of North Charleston. “Their track record with providing innovative technology solutions to critical federal missions is very impressive. Bringing companies like Agilex to the area is a big part of our long-term strategy to create a nationally-focused tech corridor at the Navy Yard.”

Rick Davis, Agilex Director of Strategic Program Delivery, believes that the Lowcountry Innovation Center will be an asset for the company. “The LIC is a great facility for technology companies,” he says. “With diverse and highly qualified technical partners available throughout the center, it will strengthen our ability to meet our client’s unique requirements. It is also a flexible facility, which suits the highly collaborative approach that we champion.”

About the Lowcountry Innovation Center

The Lowcountry Innovation Center is located at the Navy Yard in North Charleston, South Carolina, at the site of the former Charleston Naval Base. The LIC serves as a incubator for creative and technology-driven companies in the Lowcountry. With tenants like Geocent, Deloitte Service, LLP, SGA Architecture, Advanced Core Technologies, and Miller Wilson Consulting, the center has become a major focal point for generating jobs for technology workers in Charleston metro area, now fully leased since its opening in 2009.

Teens from Tri-County area showcase design and engineering skills at FIRST Robotics Competition

Students Learn Problem Solving and Teamwork in Addition to Designing and Building Robots by Working with Professional Mentors to participate at Palmetto Regional, March 24-26.

High-school students from 8 states and the Tri-County-area schools will have the opportunity to showcase their hard work after an intense six weeks of designing and building an original robot in the FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (www.usfirst.org). This week, at the North Charleston Coliseum, 43 teams of students and engineering and technical Mentors will demonstrate their skill for science, mathematics, and technology. They will compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities.  There is no charge for admission.

Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, who introduced the IBOT Mobility System and the Segway® Human Transporter (HT), FIRST was created to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people, their schools, and their communities. Now in its 20th season, the FIRST Robotics Competition anticipates close to 2,075 teams from 48 states in the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Turkey, and the United Kingdom to compete in 49 regional competitions. More than 1,000 students will compete at the Palmetto Regional to earn a spot at the Championship to be held April 27-30 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO.

“It’s not about the robots,” said FIRST founder Dean Kamen. “It’s much bigger than that. It’s about building self-confidence, respect, and important relationships with people who invent new technologies and work to make the future better than the past.”

Local organizer and Citadel professor Dr. Jason Skinner stated, “Society celebrates achievement in sports and entertainment, yet we often overlook achievements in academia.  FIRST has devised unique robotics games that spark the competitive interest of participants and onlookers, but it is richly based in science, technology, engineering, and math.

North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey said, “FIRST provides an education and career path for young people who might not otherwise have discovered an interest in and pursued education and careers in science and technology.  We are honored to be the host city for the FRC Palmetto Regional and look forward to an action-packed and educational weekend.”

This season, participating FIRST students are eligible to apply for more than $14 million in scholarships from leading universities and colleges. Scholarship announcements will be made at the FIRST Championship in April.

Over a six-week timeframe, students work with professional engineering Mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a Kit of Parts and a standard set of rules. Once these young inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students. In this year’s robotics game, “LOGO MOTION™, two alliances of three teams will compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with poles, attempting to earn points by hanging as many triangle, circle, and square logo pieces as possible. Bonus points will be earned for each robot that can hang and assemble logo pieces to form the FIRST logo. Robots can also deploy Mini-Bots to climb vertical poles for a chance to earn additional points.

This year's game

About FIRST

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and more than $14 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for high-school students, FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST® LEGO® League (Jr.FLL™) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.