GREENVILLE, S.C., (March 4, 2016)
Greenville’s leading-edge automotive research and testing facility was front and center at the 2016 SC Automotive Summit. The International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC), located at the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (SCTAC), kicked off the 5th Annual event in impressive style, highlighted by a thrilling Ride & Drive exhibition followed by an entertaining, music-filled reception, featuring Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues. The star of the show, of course, was ITIC, the dynamic automotive innovation infrastructure which is attracting some of the brightest minds in the industry.
“We are thrilled with the turnout for this event. Last year was our coming out party, if you will, in which we introduced ITIC to the automotive world at large. This year, it’s been great to see so many people in the industry who are now aware of the exciting things we are doing here, especially as it relates to wireless charging and the collaborative research environment we have created to foster global innovation.”
– John Hopkins, ITIC Director
Innovation is on track at ITIC
The theme for this year’s Automotive Summit was fitting: Connectivity | Collaboration | Innovation. That’s precisely the atmosphere that ITIC engenders, with an emphasis on collaboration. In attendance for the Ride & Drive and Reception were a number of industry researchers and engineers eager to discuss a variety of critical topics, such as: the latest automotive trends, innovative designs, advanced research, workforce solutions, supplier network collaboration, corporate engagement, and more. Guests were also treated to an informative speech by Dr. Joachim Taiber, Chief Technology Officer at ITIC. He emphasized the transition to a more connected, automated and energy-efficient transportation world, and the pivotal role ITIC will play in this transition.
Industry Feedback
Perhaps the best way to gauge the impact of ITIC and its contribution to global automotive innovation is to read what the industry experts on hand had to say:
“The collaborative research environment that an infrastructure like ITIC brings is unlimited. It brings together industry innovators and early adopters in a breeding ground environment to test situational, artificial, and adaptive technologies that can be validated in real-world scenarios.”
– Thomas Vaidhyan, CEO
Aten, Inc.
“ITIC gives us the opportunity to witness innovation in action. This is a facility that provides a dynamic forum to exchange ideas and theories amongst industry innovators like FORCAM. The potential here is to help make manufacturing smarter and more efficient. ITIC aims to marry R&D and testing in one centralized location.”
– John A. Mack, Director of Business Development
FORCAM, Inc.
“The global automotive industry is evolving rapidly as technology continues to bring new possibilities. ITIC is hugely important because it brings forward-thinking companies together to collaborate, exchange ideas, and point the way to automotive innovation in the future. The fact that ITIC is located in Upstate South Carolina reinforces our State’s position in the global marketplace.”
– Hank Bennett, Director of Gasoline Systems
Robert Bosch, LLC – Charleston Plant
“When you look at automotive innovation, much of it is being driven by consumer demand and preferences. OEM and Tier 1 suppliers are constantly looking for ways to innovate for the customer. ITIC is unique in the United States in that it encourages collaboration with multiple players in a single location, marrying theory and real-world performance. It enables us to be a key player in transportation innovation at the global level.”
– Rodger Riddle, Head of Global Sales Operations
VTL Group