In this episode of Beyond Policy, Victoria Avramovic, Executive Director of the North Carolina Innovation Council, discusses the dynamic landscape of innovation in North Carolina, particularly in the fintech sector and with the state’s new regulatory sandbox program.

She highlights the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, the role of regulatory flexibility in fostering innovation, and the establishment of a sandbox environment for testing new technologies while ensuring consumer protection.

The conversation delves into the establishment of the North Carolina Innovation Council, focusing on its legislative support, the role of regulatory sandboxes in fostering innovation, and the importance of understanding blockchain and digital currency. Avramovic discusses the collaborative efforts to ensure consumer protection while promoting economic growth through technology, and she emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation in regulatory practices to keep pace with innovation.

South Carolina has much to learn from North Carolina’s approach to innovation, and Palmetto Promise hopes that the Palmetto State will join the Tarheels in establishing a reciprocal regulatory sandbox, designed to improve the economy and embrace regulatory freedom in both states. To learn more about regulatory sandboxes, visit https://palmettopromise.org/economy25/embrace-fintech-innovation/

This very special episode of Beyond Policy features a roundtable discussion focused on the energy landscape in South Carolina, highlighting the state's growth, the challenges faced by the nuclear energy sector, and the importance of energy in both economic development and national defense.

We were pleased to be joined by a very distinguished panel: Congresswoman Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Dr. Jody Lipford (professor at Francis Marion University), Michael Mule (partner with SURGE Public Affairs), Susie Shannon (President & CEO of SC Competes), Brigadier General Robin Stilwell (Adjutant General of South Carolina), and Rick Todd (President & CEO of the SC Trucking Association).

We discuss the lessons learned from the VC Summer nuclear project, the future of nuclear energy, the role of artificial intelligence in energy solutions, and the significance of energy security for military operations.

The enlightening conversation emphasizes the need for competitive energy pricing and workforce development to attract industries and support economic growth.

We are joined this week on Beyond Policy by a very special guest, Palmetto Promise alum Lawson Mansell. He is a health policy analyst with the Niskanen Center in Washington DC, where he specializes in supply-side health care solutions. Dr. Smith and Mansell discuss opportunities for healthcare freedom and deregulation in South Carolina, especially surrounding transparency in healthcare billing and giving patients the right to shop for their healthcare.

They discuss recent Executive orders from President Trump to promote price transparency and the impacts of the federal No Surprises Act, as well as steps of South Carolina can take to promote transparent billing.