| Clemson University receives $71 million in research grants to help SC become 'economically prosperous' Zoe Nicholson Greenville News Clemson University received $71 million in research grants during the latter half of 2020, an 18% increase from the previous year despite the pandemic, according to officials.
Many of those grants were awarded to faculty in the engineering, computing, and automotive fields.
The successful run of big research grants didn't come out of anywhere. It's the work of years of building, according to Dr. Anand Gramopadhye, Dean of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson.
He said three keys have led the nationally-ranked college to success: talented people, cutting edge research, and top-notch facilities.
By building these programs, and attracting the grants, Gramopadhye said the school is building South Carolina's "next generation of talent" in the STEM, automotive, and engineering fields.
The "bottom line is it translates into economic development."
Gramopadhye said the research projects and growing college help the university uphold its "modern land-grant mission" to develop and help the state be economically prosperous.
Here are a few recent grants that will help Clemson accomplish just that, according to the university:
ICAR to build next 'battle tank' for U.S. military
Award amount: $18 million
Lead researcher: Zoran Filipi
Why it's important: In partnership with the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center, Clemson will help develop an autonomous electric vehicle for the U.S. military, essentially the next "battle tank." While the project could help the country in missions overseas, it will also help spur commercial research in self-driving cars, Gramopadhye said. The new center will be housed at ICAR in Greenville and look at on- and off-road capabilities for the vehicles.
Billion-dollar Savannah River Site project Award amount: $3.8 billion
Lead researcher: Battelle
Why it's important: Clemson is partnering with research nonprofit Battelle and four other universities -- Georgia Institute of Technology, South Carolina State University, University of Georgia, and University of South Carolina -- to produce research and workforce development at the Savannah River Laboratory site in Aiken over the next five to 10 years. The billions in award funding will be spread over 10 years and shared among the universities, Battelle, and local businesses. Clemson will help with energy, environmental, and security research.
Cybersecurity with Feds, Univ. of Texas Award amount: $111 million
Lead researcher: Paris Stringfellow
Why it's important: Clemson is partnering with the University of Texas at San Antonio and the U.S. Dept. of Energy to manage a research institute called CyManII aimed at enhancing national cybersecurity and energy efficiency. The project is a five-year agreement and includes 59 members, 24 of which are universities. The goal of the project is to create workforce development training for manufacturing workers.
Renewable Energy with Duke, Siemens Energy Award amount: $200,000
Lead researcher: Johan Enslin
Why it's important: The H2-Orange project with Siemens Energy and Duke Energy to find ways to improve hydrogen storage, production, and other uses of natural gas, which is used in vehicles and manufacturing operations. The research project aims to find ways to use green hydrogen -- which has no byproducts -- as a way to replace lithium batteries.
Manufacturing workforce development Award amount: $4 million
Lead researcher: Clemson University
Why it's important: Partnering with regional technical colleges and several manufacturers (including BMW and Michelin), Clemson is developing workforce training to prepare the next class of skilled manufacturing workers. The project, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, will be through the school's Center for Aviation and Automotive Technological Education and using Virtual E-Schools. | 
