SC names Rock Hill as a hub city where it aims to grow high-tech jobs, startups
Rock Hill is one of six cities across South Carolina chosen to grow the state’s high-tech economy as an innovation hub for start-up businesses.
The network also will include hubs in Aiken, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville. Those areas will provide spaces for collaboration, resource sharing and support for “high-potential tech companies” as they grow from ideas to businesses, according to an announcement Thursday from the South Carolina Research Authority.
Winthrop University will host the Rock Hill hub in a minimum three-year partnership. The program fits with Winthrop’s tech focus, having added undergraduate degrees the past few years in artificial intelligence, financial technology, cybersecurity, game design, software engineering and supply chain logistics.
“We’re clearly listening to what the workforce needs are in our region,” said Winthrop President Edward Serna.
Like the new Winthrop degrees, the tech hub plan aims to grow an advanced workforce in a changing economy.
“South Carolina’s tech ecosystem is poised for significant growth, and these innovation hubs represent a strategic investment in our future,” said Research Authority Interim President and CEO Bill Kirkland.
The Research Authority is a public nonprofit that began in 1983. It provides grant funding and support for technology-based companies, startups academic programs statewide.
Last year, the Research Authority funded $4.7 million in grants and investments. In the decade prior, the group funded $31 million. There are 192 member companies statewide.
Since 2006, companies have received $3 billion in follow-up funding after initial Research Authority investment.
How the SC tech program will work
Grant funding will be available starting next month for entrepreneurial groups, business accelerators and incubators, colleges, universities and industry associations to launch the hubs.
Grants will go to those groups working with “early-state high-tech and high-growth companies” looking to accelerate their innovations.
Mentorship programs, pitch competitions, tech workshops, investor matchmaking events and specialized training programs also would be eligible for grants.
Funding amounts are still being determined, Research Authority Business Development Director Mitch Smith told the Herald. The Research Authority will pay for events, marketing, training, meetups, idea pitch competitions and related costs. Winthrop will provide space.
The school would use temporary space to start the program, but could renovate the site to create a dedicated innovation center, Smith said. In the next two months, someone will be hired as a point of contact for the new hub, he said.
The goal of the hubs and grants is to help companies advance ideas and technology faster, and scale their operations within South Carolina. The state has a strong foundation for innovation, Gov. Henry McMaster said in Thursday’s announcement.
“This is the next step in accelerating that momentum,” he said. “By connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need, we will expand opportunity and keep our state competitive.”
Innovation hub impact on the Rock Hill region
Even prior to Rock Hill receiving an innovation hub designation, businesses in the region have benefitted from the Research Authority and its investment arm, SC Launch.
Rock Hill-based automated payroll and business function company Tada AI became a member company in February, and got a $25,000 startup grant last month.
More than half a dozen companies from Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover and Indian Land have become member companies. Many have then received grants.
A Fort Mill company making cases to hold TVs during tailgates got a $200,000 investment in 2017. Indian Land e-commerce business BILDIT became a member and got a $25,000 grant in 2021, followed by a $200,000 investment in 2022.
Rock Hill tech startup New Forge became a member in 2021, and got $37,000 in grants before SC Launch made a $250,000 portfolio company investment in 2023.
Most grants are smaller. Fort Mill AI application company Skilldora and cloud dashboard company Secure Process Intelligence each received $25,000 grants from SC Launch in recent years, as did Rock Hill IT startup DRAHOLA Technologies. Secure Process Intelligence also received a $50,000 acceleration grant.
Member companies have already formed a strong tech presence in the Rock Hill region.
Two years ago when finalists were named for the InnoVision Awards, nearly a quarter came from this area. Those awards look for the best tech innovation each year in South Carolina. Three of 18 finalists that year were from Fort Mill, and another from Indian Land.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 9:59 AM.