North Augusta has been selected to host SC Decoded 2024, an annual event held by the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, also known as SC Competes. It is scheduled for September 10 and 11.
“We are a statewide organization that drives long-term economic future by providing actionable research, network growth, and resources in the tech industry, aerospace, and logistics industries,” Jamie DeMent, Director of Technology & Cybersecurity Initiatives for SC Competes, explained for ABD. “So, each of us has our own conferences and SC Decoded is SC tech’s specific technology conference.”
The theme of this year’s conference is “The A, B, C and Ds of Technology in South Carolina: Artificial Intelligence, Broadband, Cybersecurity and Defense.”
DeMent said, while there are a lot of topics, these are the ones most people are asking and talking about, so it made sense to include all of them.
“We can’t have growing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence without a strong, robust broadband and our defense community has given us the ability to have the success we have in cybersecurity in AI. So, I think the reason we picked those four is they’re all hot emerging technologies, but also really interlap with each other, where conversations can really be combined together to talk about all those things,” she said.
DeMent said the 2023 conference, held in Myrtle Beach, was a more broadly based conversation on AI and cybersecurity. It made it clear technology is emerging across the Palmetto State. The tendency has been to focus on Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia, but being in Myrtle Beach demonstrated the statewide impact technology is having.
“I think one of the reasons why we wanted to spotlight North Augusta, is because of the interstate collaboration,” she said. “I think our southern states have become really known for collaboration. A huge example right now is the growth of (electric vehicle) batteries in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. That gets a huge spotlight nationally, but we’re doing just as many cool things collaboratively under cybersecurity and defense, under military as well.”
She said the relationship between technology growth and partnerships in the North Augusta-Augusta area is an example of the type of ecosystem building that gives rise to building on multiple levels, including education pipelines and entrepreneurial pipelines in cybersecurity and technology. That creates a broad, solid base upon which to build opportunities.
“Another piece of this that we’re really excited about is to spotlight the Savannah River National Laboratory. That’s a huge asset for South Carolina and the work that they’re doing there,” she said, adding, “Can’t talk about the success of North Augusta without talking about their presence along with Cyber Command across the river. So, it’s a really exciting time to be talking about cybersecurity, AI, broadband, and defense.”
In advance of the September event, SC Compete has announced opportunities for speakers, to be a part of the two-day conference.
“Anyone that is a vibrant speaker in the AI, broadband, cybersecurity, defense world,” DeMent listed. “We like to also talk about the ecosystems and how those four things sit in education, professional development, and women in tech is something that we’re very passionate about.”
They are also accepting applications from exhibitors who wish to participate. The 2023 conference had 100 different companies with 25 exhibitors. Any business working in technology is welcome to apply.
“Machine learning, AI, cybersecurity, defense-based, or any other type of technology. Anyone that’s focused on broadband and giving access to all those, the cybersecurity technology type companies,” DeMent said. “But we also really encourage community players to be a part of this as well. So, Chambers of Commerce, economic developers use this as an opportunity to uplift their community and talk about the great things that are happening there.”
SC Competes is a statewide non-profit organization that offers sponsorship opportunities for industries and community leaders.
The two-day event kicks off on September 10 with nine holes of golf at The River Golf Club, shotgun starts at 8:00 a.m. The conference begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, followed by a welcome reception at 5:00 p.m.
On September 11, the daylong conference runs from 8:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza.
More information, sponsorship opportunities, and applications for vendors and speakers to participate are available at https://www.sccompetes.org/clusters-initiative/cluster/sc-tech-cybersec/sc-tech-sub-3/. There is also a link on the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s website https://northaugustachamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/m-sc-decoded-conference-2024-12226?calendarMonth=2024-09-01.
Anyone interested can also email DeMent directly at jdement@sccompetes.org.
