Building South Carolina's Next Economy
Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy innovation, digital identity, capital formation, workforce development, and rural prosperity are reshaping the global economy. ASCENDSC™ was created to ensure South Carolina leads this transformation rather than reacts to it.
For more than a century, South Carolina's economy has been built on manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, energy, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. Today, a new economic foundation is emerging.
ASCENDSC™ is South Carolina's framework for that next economy. It brings together industry leaders, policymakers, educators, energy providers, entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers, and citizens to build a practical roadmap for responsible growth.
The Challenge
AI, Energy, Digital Infrastructure, Identity, and Capital Markets Convergence
For more than a century, South Carolina's economy has been built on manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, energy, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. Today, a new economic foundation is emerging.
ASCENDSC™ is South Carolina's framework for that next economy. It brings together industry leaders, policymakers, educators, energy providers, entrepreneurs, farmers, manufacturers, and citizens to build a practical roadmap for responsible growth.
These changes are not happening separately. They are converging.
AI requires compute.
Energy requires infrastructure.
Digital commerce requires trusted identity.
Communities require reliable facts.
Compute requires energy.
Infrastructure requires capital.
Citizens require clear rights.
And this is just the beginning.
The states that understand this convergence will lead the next era of economic development. The states that treat each issue in isolation will fall behind.
PIEC™
Payments. Identity. Energy. Compute.
PIEC™ explains the four infrastructure systems that are converging at the center of the intelligent economy.
South Carolina's opportunity is to understand these systems together and prepare for the industries, services, and public policies they will shape.
ASCENDSC™ Framework
ASCENDSC™ recognizes that economic development is no longer about attracting a single factory or supporting a single sector. Success now requires connecting energy, compute, workforce, capital, education, innovation, cybersecurity, digital rights, and public policy into one unified ecosystem.
When these systems work together, communities benefit. When they operate independently, opportunities are lost.
Siting. Cost Causation. Autonomous Energy. Load Flexibility. Environmental Stewardship.
SCALE™ provides a practical framework for evaluating major infrastructure projects, including data centers, energy-intensive industries, and next-generation industrial development.
Communities need growth, but they also need clarity. SCALE™ helps local leaders ask the right questions about where projects belong, who pays for infrastructure, how energy demand is managed, how flexibility can support the grid, and how development can respect land, water, and community priorities.
SCALE™
FARM™
Family Land Preservation. Agricultural Productivity.
Rural Prosperity. Market-Based Innovation
FARM™ ensures that South Carolina's family farms, timberlands, and rural communities are part of the next economy.
Technology should not only serve cities and industrial corridors. It should help preserve family land, strengthen agricultural productivity, create new revenue opportunities, and support rural prosperity. ASCENDSC™ believes rural South Carolina can help lead the future of energy, agriculture, land stewardship, digital infrastructure, and market-based innovation.
SC Digital Bill of Rights™
Technology should serve people.
As artificial intelligence, digital identity, data systems, and automated decision-making become part of everyday life, citizens need clear protections. The Digital Bill of Rights™ advances principles for privacy, ownership, transparency, consent, security, and freedom of choice.
Innovation and liberty should move together. South Carolina can lead by encouraging responsible technology while protecting the rights of its citizens.
Facts Over Fear
Public policy works best when it is informed by facts rather than fear.
Across South Carolina, communities are facing complex questions about AI, data centers, energy demand, water usage, jobs, tax base, privacy, digital identity, cybersecurity, and economic development.
The Facts Over Fear Graphic Library turns complex issues into clear, shareable, and printable educational resources. It is designed for citizens, local officials, policymakers, media, educators, and community leaders.
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South Carolina already has the assets needed to lead.
The state combines manufacturing strength, logistics infrastructure, ports, agriculture, aerospace, defense, automotive leadership, healthcare, cybersecurity, research universities, energy assets, and a strong business climate.
Existing Strengths
Emerging Opportunities
By aligning established industries with emerging technologies, South Carolina can become a national model for responsible innovation and economic growth.
South Carolina
Opportunity Sectors
Attendance is limited and advance registration is required.
Priority registration is currently open for:
* ASCENDSC™ Collaborative Members
* SCETA Members
* Sponsors & Partners
* Federal, State & Local Policymakers
* County Council & Municipal Leaders
* Economic Development Organizations
* Invited Industry & Academic Leaders
Additional invitations will be extended as space permits.
Reserve your seat today to receive program updates, speaker announcements, and information on related ASCENDSC™ events throughout the week.
Join the Movement
The next economy will not be built by government alone. It will not be built by industry alone. It will not be built by universities alone.
It will be built through collaboration.
ASCENDSC™ invites business leaders, educators, policymakers, farmers, students, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and citizens to participate in shaping South Carolina's future.
The decisions made today will determine the opportunities available to the next generation.
Together, we can build a future that is innovative, prosperous, secure, and uniquely South Carolinian.