Amy Allen Hinson and Yusuf Hasan wrote in Greenville Business Magazine about how the next phase of South Carolina's growth will be defined not only by what companies make, but by what they innovate.

"Across the Palmetto State, manufacturers are adopting robotics, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), sensor-enabled equipment, advanced materials, and data-driven systems," they wrote. "These tools are changing how products are designed, produced, monitored, and serviced. They are also creating intellectual property (IP) at a pace many companies may not recognize."

"Innovation in manufacturing does not always look like a finished product," they continued. "It may be an improved production method, tooling and robotics, more durable coatings, or developing predictive software. Those improvements can create significant competitive advantages that should be protected."

"From an IP standpoint, innovation can take many forms: a patentable invention, confidential know-how, proprietary software, manufacturing data, product design, brand identity, or a combination of these assets," they continued. "For manufacturers competing globally, IP protection should be viewed as a portfolio strategy that is integrated with your research, development, and production processes, rather than as a single transaction."

Click here to read the full article: Owning the Next Breakthrough: IP Strategy for South Carolina’s Advanced Manufacturers

Greenville Business Magazine is a leading business publication covering Greenville, South Carolina.