Organization · Community
South Carolina Council on Competitiveness
The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) is a nonpartisan, business-led non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic competitiveness of South Carolina through partnerships and actionable research.
Overview
What South Carolina Council on Competitiveness does
What South Carolina Council on Competitiveness is
The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (SC Competes) is a nonpartisan, business-led non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic competitiveness of South Carolina through partnerships and actionable research.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2005
- Approximate age
- About 21 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community
- Last reviewed
- April 13, 2026
Official channels
Find South Carolina Council on Competitiveness elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
South Carolina Council on Competitiveness as a community
Community overview
The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, also known as SC Competes, was established in 2003 as a collaborative initiative involving public and private sectors, including organizations and educational institutions. It is based in Columbia, South Carolina. The organization focuses on enhancing the long-term economic future of South Carolina by providing actionable research, supporting industry clusters, and fostering workforce development.
Community focus
SC Competes invests in various industry clusters, including SC Aerospace, SC Logistics, SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance, SC Tech, TransformSC, Palmetto AI Corridor, and SC Defense. The organization aims to support innovation and technology as drivers of business development across these sectors.
Member value
Members benefit from access to a network of industry leaders, actionable research, and initiatives that support workforce development and innovation in key economic sectors.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
- Next recorded event
- April 7, 2026
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Corporate Innovators · Students
- Benefits
- network-access and mentorship
- Program types
- community and other
- Selection criteria
- open
- Regions
- United States
Community activity
Events and activity
SC Competes hosts various events, including MX.O Southeast scheduled for April 7-8, 2026, Palmetto Tech Showcase on June 9, 2026, SC Aerospace Night on June 11, 2026, and STEM Night at Segra Park on August 23, 2026.
Notable members
Key team members include Susie Shannon (President & CEO), Stephen Astemborski (Director of Engagement & Aerospace Initiatives), and Kelly Baird (Director – SC Fraunhofer USA Alliance).
Common questions
What to know about South Carolina Council on Competitiveness
Upseed classifies South Carolina Council on Competitiveness under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 13, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.