USC Center for Economic Development (CED) – University Center
Serving 19 counties across California from the Mexico border to San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, Madera, and Mono counties, the CED University Center will facilitate sustainable economic development opportunities and coordinate activities to further enhance Central & Southern California’s technological competitiveness.
Collaborative equity-driven strategies for 21st century job creation and business development will be generated through discussion between industry, academia, government, and community partners. Targeted advanced manufacturing industry clusters are Aerospace and Defense, Biotech, and Climate and Clean Energy which includes emerging sectors such as Lithium extraction, processing, recycling, and batteries; Desalination; Offshore Wind Power; and the Circular Economy.
Communities may reach out to staff to request assistance with technical assistance, applied research, or information via economic development, planning, and policy studies; needs assessments, feasibility and market analyses, or GIS mapping; consensus building and strategy development; or technical assistance workshops.
Below is an overview of CED University Center’s ongoing research grouped by topic:
Building off of our work with AMPSoCal, the University Center aims to strengthen the industrial ecosystem for aerospace and defense manufacturers.
Climate and Clean Energy
The University Center will assist industry partners in developing clean, sustainable energy solutions in California and beyond.
The University Center will support efforts in lithium recovery and manufacturing for electric vehicles, computers, and cell phones that drives job creation and business development in California.
Offshore wind is becoming a statewide industrial priority that will provide clean energy and produce high quality jobs in that support California’s manufacturing and supply chain.
The University Center supports a shift to a circular economy that will more efficiently utilize resources and reduce waste through innovative material recycling, pollution control, energy efficiency, and resource sharing or treatment processes that enhance economic and environmental prosperity.
University Center Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center program is designed to marshal the resources located within colleges and universities to support regional economic development strategies in regions of chronic and acute economic distress.