COLUMBIA, S.C. - A bill introduced by a Lowcountry lawmaker could build university research parks and help attract high-paying jobs, state leaders say.

"We need to capitalize on the existence of our research universities," said Rep. Bobby Harrell, one of the leading conceptual and legislative architects behind the initiative. "We can commercialize the research to create high-paying jobs for the benefit of the entire state."

The Charleston Republican introduced a bill last week designed to create of innovation centers, or university research parks, that match public research with private businesses.

At these centers, which would be located at the major research campuses of Clemson University, Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina, new or existing businesses could help take a scientist's invention to the marketplace. That could bring jobs and corporations - and revenue - to the state.

Harrell said the legislation is essential to help transform the state from an old-world economy of textile mills to a knowledge-driven economy with high-technology industries.

The bill establishes the innovation centers under a new wing of the South Carolina Research Authority. The authority conducts research on a contract basis for entities like the federal government at three similar research parks across the state.

The authority will provide an initial $3 million to fund the undertaking, an amount that could increase to $12 million after three years.

It follows related measures that created the endowed professorships to attract the top researchers and give universities money to build top-notch laboratories. "If we are going to catch up and surpass North Carolina with what they are doing with their Research Triangle Park, this is the kind of legislation we need."

North Carolina faced a similarly bleak economic outlook when lawmakers and state business leaders began planning Research Triangle Park, the nation's largest and most successful university research enterprise.

In the 1950s when planning began, North Carolina's per capita income ranked 47th out of 48 states, said Albert Link, a Research Triangle Park historian and an economics professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The turnaround in the years since has led other states to place their economic hopes in the Triangle Park model. The American Association of Research Parks says there are now 195 parks in 40 states employing an average 3,400 people.

Still, the development of these projects does not happen overnight, and not all become a resounding success that transforms a state's economy.

"It takes a long time to go from seed to harvest," said Link, one of the nation's foremost consultants on research park development.

"The most critical factor is for university administration to get the faculty to be the stakeholders in the success," he added. "And that's a lot easier said than done."

Harris Pastides, USC's vice president for research, called the bill the "missing link" that creates a place where universities and the private sector can collaborate for the benefit of the state.

"This is a continuum of taking knowledge that is in our universities and making it work for the citizens of South Carolina," he said.

With nearly half the House signing on as co-sponsors, Harrell believes the bill will face few obstacles on the floor. "Both Republicans and Democrats have signed on," he said.