RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (July 30, 2024) – In a walk down Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina, you can take in the atmosphere of a thriving downtown community, ripe with cultural and lifestyle attractions, and the comingling of college student and business professional energies. But what you may not suspect is the impressive scale of some of the work being done behind the doors of local businesses, including Integer Technologies, a high-tech company developing solutions to keep our nation safe.
Born from the entrepreneurial dream of two-man cofounding team Duke Hartman and Josh Knight, Integer Technologies opened its doors in downtown Columbia in 2021. The company initiated its first university collaboration with University of South Carolina (USC), and has grown to almost 50 employees in only three years, scaling up its team almost as quickly as it is successfully landing new contracts and partnerships.
“It’s no accident we established our headquarters adjacent to USC,” said Duke Hartman, CEO and Cofounder of Integer Technologies. “We partner with leading research universities across the country to turn research into fielded technology with real-world national security applications. The faculty, students, and facilities at USC, and especially the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing and McNair Center, are world-class and we’re proud to have our engineers work side-by-side with their team to develop high-tech solutions for our national security customers.”
Integer is partnering with USC on several large research programs, including an electrical grid power systems project and a maritime autonomous vehicle perception project. For the power grid project, Integer is leveraging a digital-physical testbed at USC to develop digital twins that can predict future possible states of an electrical microgrid to help operators make decisions in real-time that ensure grid resilience. For the autonomous vehicle project, Integer is developing a prototype camera and computer vision system to enable unmanned robotic ships to perceive the environment around them, navigate, and avoid obstacles.
The company is also working with leading research universities in South Carolina and across the country on problem sets that include preventing cyberattacks on autonomous vehicles and electrical grids, improving the intelligence and collaborative abilities of groups of autonomous systems or “drones,” and digital engineering to improve advanced manufacturing processes for composite materials. Integer has developed new university partnerships locally and nationally, including with influential historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“We’re very excited about our partnership with Benedict College, located just a mile from our Columbia headquarters,” said Josh Knight, Ph.D., COO and Cofounder of Integer Technologies. “Benedict College’s research in protecting automotive vehicles from cyberattacks is a natural fit with the work we’re doing in maritime environments. In addition, their STEM graduates represent a critical contribution to our national security workforce.”
In June 2024, a competitive $982 million multiple-award contract was announced by the U.S. Navy. Integer Technologies was among the more than two dozen contract recipients – just one of two from S.C. – to be selected for the “on ramp” to the Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vehicle Family of Systems, which aims to develop and field new technologies for the next generation of unmanned ships or “drone” ships. Selection to this contract would not have been possible were it not for Integer’s recent history performing research and development for the likes of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and will allow Integer to bring their expertise developing high-tech solutions for maritime environments to more Navy customers.
To accommodate its extraordinary growth, Integer Technologies is building out its office at 1556 Main Street with both staff and space. By the end of this year, the company will nearly double its square footage and increase the number of team members by twenty-five percent. While Hartman admits the company could go just about anywhere, it’s created a home for itself in Columbia that has a wonderful combination of quality of life and business friendly environment.
“When I tell people I moved from Hawaii to Columbia, SC, I inevitably get a ‘but, why?’ or raised eyebrow. I moved here because USC is a leader in their research fields, and access to their facilities and engineering graduates are key drivers for our business. But I’m pleased to say it’s been an equally positive move on the personal side. I have young children and it’s such a welcoming and family-friendly environment here and the overall quality of life in Columbia is fantastic. It’s a great place to work, play, and raise a family,” said Hartman.
Integer Technologies is actively hiring to fill numerous roles. Candidates interested in applying can visit the company’s careers page or LinkedIn page.
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Written in collaboration by the Richland County Economic Development Office with Integer Technologies.
About Integer Technologies
Integer is a science and technology company that protects freedom by transforming innovative research into fieldable technology for our national security customers. Visit www.integer-tech.com to learn more.
About the Richland County Economic Development Office:
The Richland County Economic Development Office (RCEDO) works to expand, diversify and sustain the local economy by assisting companies that provide meaningful job opportunities and generate new wealth for its citizens. Founded in 2011, the RCEDO seeks to attract new industry to the community, assist existing companies with potential expansions, and ensure buildings and industrial sites are available for prospects to consider. Connect with RCEDO on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.