 In 2005, the concept of Innovista was created by then-USC President Dr. Andrew Sorenson; Dr. Harris Pastides, then-USC Vice President for Research and Health Sciences and current USC President; and then-Columbia Mayor Bob Coble.At the time, USC research funding was growing significantly and the Carnegie Foundation had designated the university as an institution of "very high research activity," its highest distinction given only to 62 public research institutions.USC's signature research areas included hydrogen fuel cells and other alternative energies, health sciences, nanotechnology and material sciences, environmental sciences, and software and technology.