Harris Awarded Contract by Iraqi Media Network
Melbourne-based Harris Corporation has been awarded a three-month, $22 million contract by the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), the country's public television and radio broadcasting organization, which has operating locations in Baghdad and more than 30 other locations throughout the country.

The contract includes training, programming support, systems integration and deployment work for IMN. Contract funding will be provided entirely by the Iraqi government.

For additional information, visit www.harris.com.

Alachua Company Enters Partnership to Develop Gene Therapies
Applied Genetic Technologies Corporated (AGTC), a private development-stage biotechnology company housed at the University of Florida's Sid Martin Biotechnology Development Incubator (BDI), has entered into a research partnership with biotechnology giant Genzyme Corporation, to develop new gene therapies. The collaboration may develop new treatments for central nervous system disorders, immune-mediated disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Through the partnership, Genzyme will have access to AGTC's expertise using Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors to deliver gene therapy to patients. AAV vectors act as a backbone or carrier for healthy genes. When the vectors are injected, they trigger cells in the body to accept the corrected DNA. The virus then dies, leaving the cells with the transplanted, healthy gene.

For additional information, visit www.agtcfl.com or www.genzyme.com.

USF Research Helps Halt Spread of Disease After Future Tsunamis
University of South Florida (USF) College of Marine Science researchers have developed biosensors that may be the most effective future defense against diseases formed after disasters such as the recent tsunami. The sensors can detect infectious diseases in blood and bodily fluids as well as identify pathogenic micro-organisms in contaminated water. This will help prevent the spread of disease after such a natural disaster and reduce annual rates of illness and deaths by contaminated water and unsanitary conditions worldwide.

The research group is testing portable, miniaturized biosensors that can monitor, in real-time, a number of infectious diseases in a single drop of blood and use sensors to teleport data wirelessly to a remote location for analysis.

For additional information, visit www.usfnews.usf.edu.

UF Research Companies Boost Florida's Economy
According to a new study commissioned by the University of Florida (UF) Economic Development Administration University Center, companies spawned from UF technologies had a total economic impact of $456.2 million on Florida's economy in 2003 alone.

The study also found that in 2003 these companies helped directly impact the economy by creating 921 jobs and generating $186.2 million in income and technology sales. Economic activity created by businesses selling goods and services, one of the indirect economic effects, helped the state generate another $270 million and create another 954 Florida jobs.

Gov. Jeb Bush praised UF for its efforts to help spur economic growth and to cultivate biotech companies.

For additional information, visit www.napa.ufl.edu.

UCF Database Connects Florida Law Enforcement Together
The University of Central Florida (UCF) and Florida law enforcement have created a statewide computer network that allows police officers and detectives to have instant and electronic access to critical information in hundreds of different police databases across Florida. The Florida Integrated Network for Data Exchange and Retrieval (FINDER) is currently used by more than 80 Florida police agencies and will ultimately provide access to 355 agencies statewide.

The system allows police to search databases throughout the state by entering queries involving property, motor vehicles, pawn activity and persons ranging from suspects to felons or their known associates. Only individual law enforcement agencies have access to the system.

For additional information, visit www.cohpa.ucf.edu

Aircraft Engine Services, Inc. to Open in Titusville
The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast has announced that Aircraft Engine Services, Inc. (AES) will locate its new operation in Titusville. AES, the market support entity and product support organization of piston aircraft engines, plans to include a new 15,000-square-foot hanger and a 15,000-square-foot office and support space in its new location.

The new operation will sell high-end products to manufacturers and clients and will include sales, marketing and product support functions as well as flight-testing, repair and certification activities.

For additional information, visit www.spacecoastedc.org

Internet Commercial Company Launches in Tampa
Florida eCommercials Inc., a new Tampa-based provider of high-quality streaming Internet commercials, has launched its operations throughout Florida. The company produces commercials that can run on Web sites for businesses.

Services include filming, editing and streaming high-quality commercials. The company states that the eCommercial costs less than a television ad, yet it reaches a targeted audience and is available 24 hours a day.

For additional information, visit www.ecommercials.net

Modus Operandi Wins $9.3 Million Army Contract
Modus Operandi, a Melbourne-based business and information technology solutions company, has recently been awarded a $9.3 million contract with the U.S. Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) department.

The company will be responsible for developing the technology, processes, training programs, and methodologies of complex software systems for the advancement of homeland security and wartime defense technologies.

Modus Operandi will use Wave, the company's powerful Web-based collaborative knowledge integration environment system, to develop improved wartime capabilities including risk assessments, real-time visibility and the technology to allow personnel at all levels to share knowledge instantaneously.

For additional information, visit www.modusoperandi.com

Call for State Science and Engineering Fair Judges
Celebrating its 50th year, the State Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) of Florida is requesting judges with exemplary credentials in the area of science research to evaluate students' research. Approximately 900 outstanding student science research projects will be entered in the SSEF.

Each project will be placed into one of the following 14 categories: behavioral and social sciences, earth and space sciences, microbiology, biochemistry, engineering, physics, botany, environmental sciences, zoology, chemistry, mathematics, teams projects (2-3 members), and computer sciences.

For additional information, contact Saioa de Urquiza, University of Central Florida at (407) 823-2969 or surquiza@mail.ucf.edu

SAXoTECH Makes Tampa its New Home
SAXoTECH, a recognized leader in providing content management and online production systems to media companies, has relocated its North America headquarters from Rockville, Md. to Tampa.

The move will create 30 or more new technology positions in the area. SAXoTECH now operates in more than 200 media and publishing sites.

For additional information, visit www.saxotech.com.

DBCC Offers Scholarships to High Tech Students

The National Science Foundation and Daytona Beach Community College have teamed up to provide promising students in the fields of computer science, engineering and math an exclusive scholarship opportunity. The collaboration between the two organizations created the Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship (CSEMS).

There is no deadline to apply for the scholarships. Applicants for the scholarships must be enrolled full-time, maintain a minimum 2.5 G.P.A., and major in the field of computer science, engineering or mathematics.

For additional information, visit www.dbcc.edu.

Connect Your Company to University Students and Graduates
High tech company presidents and CEOs are invited to a luncheon that will provide an overview of the recruitment services available with Florida's university career centers on February 18 from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites at the University of South Florida.

The event will be hosted by Florida Career Centers, a consortium composed of career center directors from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University; Florida Atlantic University; Florida Gulf Coast University; Florida International University; Florida State University; University of Central Florida; University of Florida; University of North Florida; University of South Florida; and, University of West Florida.

To reserve a seat or for more information, please contact Dr. Drema Howard at dhoward@admin.usf.edu, (813) 974-9718. RSVP deadline is February 14.

FIRST Robotics Florida Regional Competition to be held at UCF

The University of Central Florida (UCF) and NASA/Kennedy Space Center are set to host the FIRST Robotics Florida Regional Competition at the UCF arena on March 10th -12th for the third consecutive year. The competition will pair students with industry professionals to create sophisticated robots designed to carry out specific tasks. The event will give students the opportunity to build cooperation and leadership skills while competing against other teams.

Last year, Governor Bush commended the participating students for being the "doers, dreamers, and innovators of tomorrow."

The Florida High Tech Corridor is one of 14 regional investors sponsoring this event.

For additional information, visit www.firstfloridaregional.org.

Did You Know?
The most recent Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) Annual Report is online and located at www.floridahightech.com. This year's report boasts the $19 million dedicated to research projects in 2003-2004 alone - helping to bring the total research dollars to an impressive $120 million since the Corridor's inception in 1996. It also details more than 20,000 hours devoted to FHTCC marketing, workforce and industry projects by volunteers from Corridor companies, universities, colleges, economic development organizations, government and other organizations in efforts to attract, retain and grow high tech industry throughout the Corridor.

Corridor People in the News
Congratulations to Ray Gilley, president and CEO of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, who was awarded the 2004 Champions of the Workforce System Award by Workforce Florida Inc. and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The award recognizes employers, individuals and organizations for leadership in improving workforce services in Florida.

Dr. Chang Wen Chen, Florida Tech professor of electrical engineering, has been elected the prestigious honor as an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Fellow. Dr. Chen is the director of Florida Tech's Wireless Center of Excellence and is the university's Allen S. Henry Distinguished Professor.

Calendar of Events
 

The following are events taking place across the Corridor's 23-county region or the surrounding area, which readers may be interested in attending:

Technically Speaking: Marketing in the Technology World
Presented by: University of Central Florida Technology Incubator
Wednesday, February 9 - Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center
For event information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu

Second Entrepreneurial Boot Camp
Presented by: Florida TechStart
Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11 - Florida Tech's Hartley Room in the Denius Student Center
For event information, contact Jan Cavalla at jcavalla@fit.edu

Call for Proposals - USF Internal Awards Program
Deadline: Tuesday, February 15, 5 p.m.
Grants Available: New Researcher, Established Researcher, Creative Scholarship, Interdisciplinary Research Development, Faculty International Travel
For event informationand application forms, visit www.research.usf.edu

Association for Corporate Growth Meeting
Presented by: The Association for Corporate Growth Central Florida/Orlando Chapter
Thursday, February 17 - The Citrus Club, Orlando
For event information and RSVP, contact Catherine Horas at (407) 772-0825 or RSVP@acgorlando.org.

Florida University Career Center High Tech Company President and CEO Luncheon: Learn how to Connect to Thousands of Students and Graduates
Presented by: Florida Career Centers
Friday, February 18 - Embassy Suites at USF
For event information and reservation, contact Dr. Drema Howard at dhoward@admin.usf.edu

Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course
Presented by: The UCF Technology Incubator and UCF College of Business Administration
Course begins Monday, February 21; Course ends Wednesday, March 16 - Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center in Downtown Orlando
For event information, contact Laura Giffin at (407) 882-2801 or lgiffin@mail.ucf.edu.

High Tech Summit
Presented by: IT Florida
Tuesday, February 22 - Wednesday, February 23 – Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Orlando Regional Airport
Mention that you learned about the High Tech Summit in "Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor" to receive a $50 discount.
For event information, visit www.itflorida.org.

2005 Channel Summit
Presented by: Channel Intelligence
Speaker: State of Florida CFO, Tom Gallagher
Thursday, February 24 - Friday, February 25 - Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando
For event information, visit www.channelintelligence.com.

The Art of the Start
Presented by: University of Central Florida, Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Garage Technology Ventures
Thursday, February 24 - The Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World
For event information, visit www.artofthestartflorida.com.

The UCF Leadership Edge
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Monday, March 14 - Tuesday, March 15 - The Orlando Science Center
For event information, visit www.orbit.ucf.edu.

Metro Orlando Economic Outlook: 'Igniting Economic Growth'
Presented by: Metro Orlando EDC and the UCF Institute for Economic Competitiveness
Speaker: Frans Johansson, author of Medici Effect
Thursday, April 14 - Downtown Orlando, location TBD
For event information, contact Maureen.Brockman@OrlandoEDC.com.

Innovative Technology Conference
Presented by: The Florida Court Automation and Government Technology Congress
Thursday, April 28 - Friday, April 29 - Florida Gulf University
For event information, visit www.catcongress.com.

9th UCF ORBIT Executive Briefing in a Series
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Friday, April 29 - The Orlando Science Center
For event information, visit www.orbit.ucf.edu.

2nd Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference
Presented by: The Florida Research Consortium, The Tampa Bay Technology Forum and Central Florida Technology Partnership
Wednesday, May 18 - Thursday, May 19 - The Hilton Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando
For event information, visit www.flatechtransfer.org.

National Events

The following calendar items are national happenings in which readers may be interested:

"US Cities and States of the Future 2005/06" Award Deadline Approaching
Presented by: fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine.
Deadline - Sunday, February 20, For an entry form, visit: uscities.fdimagazine.com.
For more information and an entry form, call 703-837-0685 or e-mail karenFDImagazine@aol.com.

Biotech 2005
Presented by: The University of Miami
Thursday, March 10 - The University of Miami Conference Center at the Hyatt Regency
For event information, visit www.edc-tech.org

Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor is published by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Inc. (FHTCC) and its economic development partners. The FHTCC is an initiative of the University of Central Florida (www.ucf.edu), the University of South Florida (www.usf.edu) and the University of Florida (www.ufl.edu). For more information visit our Web site at www.floridahightech.com, or contact one of the region's economic development partners listed at www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary.