Dive Brief:

• The South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC) has announced plans for a new business park in Greenville, SC to develop smart technology for cities, according to The Greenville News. 
• The 243-acre tech park could bring more than 100 new tech companies and up to 5,000 new jobs to the area.
• The space will provide a collaborative environment for companies to develop smart technologies that can be used in cities, while testing them in a safe place before releasing them in the public space.

Dive Insight:

SCTAC grew from a public-private partnership that purchased the land when Donaldson Air Force base closed in 1963. It has established an aviation-heavy tech and science presence at its campus, with nearly 100 companies that include 3M, Lockheed-Martin and Michelin. It's recognized as a major aircraft maintenance and modification center. 

SCTAC is a huge economic boon for the small city and it has fought to draw in more talent and investments over the past several years. The new addition will allow for huge growth in talent and investments as it branches out into non-aviation areas. SCTAC's existing infrastructure, including a mile-long testing track, makes it a solid environment in which to expand, rather than constructing a tech facility from scratch. It will especially benefit the smart city concept of better transportation.

Some of the technologies expected to be developed and tested at the facility are autonomous vehicles and smart crosswalks. Organizers believe many tech companies don't fully understand the amount of infrastructure and testing needed for successfully integrating smart city projects, and the collaborative environment will help them discover and navigate such challenges. The campus itself also will incorporate smart city concepts, such as mobility hubs.