Auto park a reality

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in automotive research. Public

and private sectors worked together

to make bold dreams come true.

Ground was broken Wednesday in the heart of Greenville County for the Clemson University automotive research campus that promises to transform our state's economy and bring high-paying, knowledge-based jobs to this area. This region of the country, which has been parched for good economic news, was blessed Wednesday morning with a downpour of encouraging announcements at a jewel of a site located along Interstate 85 and Laurens Road.

In what was accurately described as one of the most significant economic development announcements to occur in our state in recent memory, plans were unveiled for the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research that will be anchored by a graduate engineering center. The first non-academic partner will be BMW that will build an Information Technology Research Center.

While South Carolina cannot turn its back on the recruitment and nurturing of traditional branch manufacturing, it also cannot move confidently into the future without embracing a new cluster approach to economic development. The Clemson auto research park will be, as state Commerce Secretary Bob Faith said Wednesday, "a cluster like none other. We're creating what's going to be an international magnet for automotive research in our own back yard and planting the flag for an aggressive economic development effort in the months and years to come."

This cluster development will build on what's already a success story for South Carolina — BMW Manufacturing Corp., which employs about 4,700 employees, has invested more than $2.5 billion in South Carolina and has attracted about three dozen suppliers to our state that account for about another 7,000 jobs.

To remain competitive in a quickly evolving global economy, South Carolina must emphasize the creation of knowledge-based, high-tech jobs. Doing so will require greater collaboration between the public and private sectors and will put more focus on nurturing intellectual capital and encouraging research efforts.

Unveiled Wednesday morning was what Gov. Mark Sanford aptly described as "a giant step forward in the economic development of South Carolina." Clemson University, BMW Manufacturing Corp. and the state of South Carolina are joining forces and combining economic resources to create a center to meet the academic and research needs of BMW and the state's growing automotive industry. IBM and Microsoft will play a role in this effort, too.

In coming years, this venture will pay off with the creation of thousands of well-paying jobs, a significantly enhanced presence for BMW and other automotive-related businesses and a healthier economy and brighter future for South Carolina.