The University of South Carolina (UofSC) has partnered with the State of Palmetto to develop a state cyber ecosystem with the goal of making South Carolina a highly competitive player in cyber industry.
The new alliance was announced on Thursday, February 4, by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and University President Bob Caslen. Under the ecosystem, the efforts of South Carolina’s public and private organizations operating in the cyber field will be aligned according to a unified vision.
“The university hopes to join the government and industry in this critical effort across the state,” said Caslen. “As the leading university in South Carolina, we are in a unique position to help develop the future cyber workforce the state needs, as well as inform stakeholders about emerging cyber research and best practices that affect security and the economy. of State.”
An initial study to inventory the state’s cyber assets, analyze the main strengths and weaknesses and form a development strategy was announced by McMaster at a press conference at State House. The study will take a look at South Carolina’s current cyber ecosystem, recording verticals in defense, investment, education, public awareness and development workforce and industry partnerships.
“This statewide cyber strategy is an opportunity to develop a cyber ecosystem that trains, attracts and produces a workforce for the high-tech, well-paying jobs in the knowledge economy,” said McMaster. “Cyber professionals are in high demand, and through these efforts, we can make South Carolina one of the country’s top cyber hubs.”
The main public and private stakeholders in the cyber industry will be selected to participate in a coordinating committee whose function will be to guide the study, support data collection and conduct an assessment of the state’s cyber assets. The results of the study will form the basis of a plan to improve coordination, capacity and cyber capacity across South Carolina.
South Carolina’s cyber assets include the Naval Information Warfare Center in Charleston and the recently announced collaboration of the Savannah River National Laboratory involving the U.S. Department of Energy and three South Carolina universities.
Bill Kirkland, executive director of the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Involvement at UofSC, said the University’s long-term plans include creating a new asset: a Cyber Institute that will combine education, research, outreach and strength development of work.