$1.5 Million Donation to Create Endowed Research Chairs in Engineering and Business Schools
COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) announced today that the company, in conjunction with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC (SRNS), a Fluor-led partnership that manages and operates the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site, presented a $1.5 million contribution to the University of South Carolina (USC) to help with the establishment of the Center of Economic Excellence for the Hydrogen Economy.
The Fluor/SRNS joint donation will be used to establish two endowed chairs for top researchers: a Discovery Chair in USC’s College of Engineering and Computing and an Innovation Chair in the Darla Moore School of Business. It will also create a formal relationship between USC and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), similar to partnerships that other DOE National Laboratories have established with tier-one public research universities.
An official ceremony to celebrate the announcement was held on the USC campus in Columbia, SC. Fluor CEO David Seaton and SRNS President & CEO Garry Flowers made a formal check presentation to the USC’s President, Dr. Harris Pastides. The group noted that the center will be the cornerstone of a comprehensive university-industry partnership between USC, Fluor and SRNS to advance the science, technology and commercialization of clean, secure, renewable energy and related infrastructure.
“During our nearly 100-year history, Fluor has worked diligently through our philanthropic efforts to make differences in the communities where our employees live and work,” said David Seaton, Fluor’s CEO. “I am pleased to be able to make this investment with the university that will enable the private sector and academic researchers to team together and uncover new and innovative ways of bringing the next generation of energy jobs to South Carolina and the region."
“SRNS is extremely pleased to partner with our parent company, Fluor, and the University of South Carolina to create an endowment that will advance the business viability, route to commercial and market acceptance of technologies based on research and development with the Department of Energy,” said Garry W. Flowers, President and CEO of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. “The University’s Darla Moore School of Business is a tremendous global asset and their perspectives and participation offer great promise to our companies.”
In accepting the Fluor/SRNS contribution, USC President Harris Pastides said, “Current global events are a stark reminder of the critical need for energy independence. However, that independence can only be achieved by bringing together the best and the brightest minds in industry and research through public-private partnerships. This gift today, along with the state funds through the Centers of Economic Excellence program, will help achieve this critical national objective.”
The Discovery Chair in USC’s College of Engineering and Computing will be filled by a researcher and leader in renewable energy who will create and coordinate joint research programs between USC and SRNL for developing technological advances in hydrogen and renewable energy technology.
The Innovation Chair in the Moore School will be a global expert in innovation, commercialization and technology transfer. The chair’s mission is to collaborate with scientists and technologists, translating discoveries from SRNL and USC into commercial paths and developing the businesses.
Fluor is contributing $1.25 million and SRNS will add $250,000. The State of South Carolina will provide matching funds as part of its Centers of Economic Excellence matching program.
About Fluor Corporation
Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) designs, builds and maintains many of the world's most challenging and complex projects. Through its global network of offices on six continents, the company provides comprehensive capabilities and world-class expertise in the fields of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance and project management. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor is a FORTUNE 200 company and had revenues of $20.8 billion in 2010. For more information, visit www.fluor.com.
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