For generations, Aiken has been known for its Southern charm, equestrian heritage and close-knit community. Today, another story is quietly unfolding, one that has the potential to influence the region for decades to come.
The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, known as the AMC, on the USC Aiken campus represents far more than a new building. It is an investment in people, partnerships and possibility. Designed as a collaborative hub between the Savannah River National Laboratory, USC Aiken, industry leaders and researchers, the facility creates an environment where innovation moves beyond the laboratory.
“The vision for this facility was really over a decade in the making,” said Dr. Johney Green, Director of the Savannah River National Laboratory. “The vision was to have an open front door for science, innovation and economic development.”
That vision became reality with the opening of the 63,000 square foot, $65 million facility. While Savannah River National Laboratory occupies the building, dedicated classroom and laboratory space allows USC Aiken students and faculty to learn alongside world class researchers in new ways.
Unlike the laboratory’s primary campus inside the Savannah River Site, the AMC was intentionally built to be more accessible.
“Our main campus has security requirements because of the work that takes place there,” Green explained. “This facility makes it much easier to engage with visitors, businesses, universities and collaborators. It’s really our open front door.”
That accessibility is one of the building’s greatest strengths. Researchers can partner with private industry, universities can collaborate on emerging technologies and students can gain exposure to careers that once felt out of reach.
Inside the AMC, work focuses on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, environmental cleanup and next generation nuclear technologies. These partnerships help move discoveries from research into practical applications.
One recent example is Savannah River National Laboratory’s partnership with Silica X, which earned an R&D 100 Award for developing innovative materials capable of safely absorbing and storing nuclear waste. Often called the “Oscars of Innovation,” the award recognizes the world’s most significant technological breakthroughs.
“The long-term vision is how do we attract other businesses, other investors and create an ecosystem around this facility,” Green said. “That’s what creates jobs and opportunities.”
Rather than simply housing researchers, the AMC is designed to become a catalyst for economic growth throughout Aiken and the surrounding region by encouraging investment, attracting companies and strengthening the workforce.
Sara Shoemaker, External Communications Manager for Savannah River National Laboratory, spent 15 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory before coming to Aiken.
“I had the exact same thought,” she said. “The relationship between Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Oak Ridge was very similar.”
She watched an innovation center transform an entire community by attracting companies, researchers and investment. She believes Aiken has the same opportunity.
“We’re really unique as far as an innovation, research and development hub,” Shoemaker said. “There are people here who are the foremost global experts in their fields, and they’re right here in our community.”
Savannah River National Laboratory is one of only 17 Department of Energy national laboratories in the nation and one of just two in the Southeast. Those laboratories serve as national engines for research, scientific discovery and technological advancement, placing Aiken in an extraordinary position.
Located on the USC Aiken campus, the AMC creates opportunities for college students and local high school students to interact with cutting edge research, explore STEM careers and work alongside experienced scientists.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to inspire people,” Green said. “Potentially provide opportunities to work side by side with researchers.”
As Aiken continues to grow, the AMC stands as a reminder that innovation and small town living can thrive together.
More than a research facility, the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative represents confidence in Aiken’s future. It reflects a belief that world changing ideas can begin here, partnerships can strengthen an entire region and today’s students may become tomorrow’s innovators without leaving the community they call home.
For Aiken, the AMC is not simply a new address on campus. It is an open invitation to imagine what comes next for everyone.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to inspire people,”
“There are people here who are the foremost global experts in their fields, and they’re right here in our community.”