UF Invention Helps Guard Space Shuttle’s Fuel Tank
Researchers from the University of Florida (UF) have developed a sophisticated backscatter X-ray detector to reduce the chance of a defect in the foam insulation covering the fuel tank of the space shuttle Discovery.

The detectors were first invented to locate land mines, and further studies found the detectors can identify tiny gaps or air-filled voids in the insulating foam of the fuel tank without causing any damage.

For additional information, visit http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20050308.073103& time=07%2050%20PST&year=2005&public=0.

Technology Research Consultants Presents Donation to USF
Technology Research Consultants, a company that provides turn-key design, manufacturing and integration solutions for the aviation industry, presented the University of South Florida (USF) Research Foundation with a $50,000 donation at the Central Florida Development Council Board Meeting.

The gift is to help establish a Florida High Tech Corridor Manufacturing Center of Excellence for Obsolescence Mitigation, as well as other initiatives. In the project’s early stages, a study will be conducted to help determine the size of the market and the Corridor’s manufacturing capacity to address that market.

For additional information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pressRoom/cfdb_board_meeting.htm.

FIRST Robotics Competition a Success at UCF
The University of Central Florida (UCF) recently hosted the FIRST Robotics Florida Regional Competition at the UCF Arena. The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition was conceived to develop Florida’s education in the high tech industry by combining the excitement of a sport with science and technology to create a challenging activity for the mind.

Gov. Jeb Bush and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, along with hundreds of teachers, parents and industry mentors cheered on the more than 2,000 high school students as they controlled their robots in a series of competitive challenges.

Jim Kennedy, director of the Kennedy Space Center, was the keynote speaker at the corporate sponsor luncheon.

For additional information, visit http://www.cflfirst.cecs.ucf.edu/.

Local Educators Receive Hands-On High Tech Career Training
More than 70 Orange, Seminole and Lake County educators recently attended a Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) techCAMP, hosted by techPATH – an initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. techCAMPs provide educators with the knowledge and tools to guide students in their pursuit of high tech careers.

The workshop included presentations covering the history and overview of simulation, use of simulation in the military, simulation technology in theme park attractions, virtual and augmented reality, learning and training, and special populations.

Teachers also received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® at Universal’s Islands of Adventure®; and experienced Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast™, Shrek 4-D™, and Back to the Future The Ride® at Universal Studios; and, participated in a panel discussion with the Universal Orlando Technical Services team.

A techCAMP for Volusia and Flagler educators will be held Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8.

For additional information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pressRoom/mst_techcamp.htm.

CAE USA Receives Contract to Produce Black Hawk Simulator
Tampa-based CAE USA, a leading provider of simulation and modeling technologies, has been awarded a $26 million contract by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office – Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) to produce a MH-60 Black Hawk Block 1 combat mission simulator (CMS).

The simulator will provide training on two kinds of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters used by the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment – Airborne SOAR (A) — helicopters for special operations such as infiltration, exfiltration and resupply, and an armed version of the Black Hawk helicopter.

For additional information, visit http://www.cae.com/www2004/News_Room/index.shtml#.

Florida Tech Awarded Grant for $1.7 Million
Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) has been awarded a grant for nearly $1.7 million over three years from the National Science Foundation. The grant will enable faculty to collaborate with Brevard County high school science teachers to develop new learning modules.

The project, entitled Integrated Science Teaching Enhancement Partnership (InStep), improves science instruction and increases student enthusiasm for scientific inquiry and discovery. The grant will also provide funding for a fully equipped mobile laboratory, which will facilitate hands-on learning at local field sites.

For additional information, visit http://www.fit.edu/newsroom/news/March2005.html#hssciencegrant.

Bayshore Solutions Recognized by B-to-B Magazine
For the second year in a row, Bayshore Solutions, a Tampa-based Web development services and technology firm, has been listed on B-to-B Magazine’s Top 20 Interactive Agencies annual list.

The list is comprised of companies that have outstood their competitors with increased revenue and award-winning products and services.

For additional information, visit http://www.bayshoresolutions.com.

Tech Transfer Conference Presents Leading High Tech Speakers
Hundreds of industry and university professionals, investors, economic development officials and service providers are invited to attend the Second Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference May 18-19 at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort.

Guest speakers will include Benjamin L. Noel, executive director of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and executive on loan from EA-Tiburon; and, Max Wallace, president of the Arbor Group, a firm that provides strategic advice to innovation-driven universities, companies and communities, and chairman and president of the North Carolina Innovation Foundation.

For additional information or to RSVP, visit http://www.floridaresearch.org/index.php?src=gendocs&link= Tech%20Transfer_Home&category=TechTransfer.

Did You Know?
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council has recently explored and begun working with the tourism industry to identify conferences and tradeshows that will help benefit high tech economy in the region. So far, a microtechnology/nanotechnology conference has been secured. A seed venture conference and a science/engineering conference are being pursued. This partnership of tourism and technology is anticipated to benefit all parties involved … the convention and visitors bureaus win additional conference bids, economies are stimulated by an influx of visitors to the region, and technology within the Corridor can be showcased through personalized marketing efforts, “fam” trips for conference attendees or pre-arranged meetings. Stay tuned for more success stories as they develop!

Corridor People in the News

Congratulations to Florida High Tech Corridor Core Team member Dr. Tom O’Neal who has received his doctorate in industrial engineering.

Congratulations to Dr. Edward H. Kalajian, associate dean of academics for the College of Engineering at FIT, who was recently honored for his years of dedication and commitment at the 2005 meeting of the Civil Engineering Advisory Committee (CEAC).

Chief Information Officer and Enterprise Information Systems President of Lockheed Martin and Florida High Tech Corridor Council member, Joseph Cleveland, has been selected as one of the “Most Important Blacks in Technology” by editors of US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine. Honorees will be presented to young people as role models and their accomplishments upheld as important contributions made by Blacks in high tech positions around the world.

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:

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Luncheon
Speaker: Brigadier General Bill Weber: Director of Training DA G3 U.S. Army
Presented by: Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
Monday, April 11 – Radisson University Hotel, Orlando
For event information and reservations, visit
https://www.riptidesoftware.com/non-profit/luncheons/register.php?event_id=11.

Economic Outlook
“ Innovation Intersection: Where ideas ignite economic growth”
Presented by: Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and the University of Central Florida
Thursday, April 14 – Ballroom at Church Street, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.orlandoedc.com/ and click on Events.

April Authors’ Luncheon – Biomimicry
Presented by: Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
Speaker: Janine M. Benyus, author of Biomimicry
Monday, April 18 – Hyatt, Sarasota
For event information and reservations, call (941) 309-1200 or visit http://www.edcsarasotacounty.com.

Power Networking Reception
Presented by: Advisory Board Council
Tuesday, April 19 – Disney/SBA Entrepreneur Center
For event information, visit http://www.advisoryboardcouncil.com/invitation.htm.

Technology Small Business Advisory Team
Presented by: Central Florida Technology Partnership
Wednesday, April 20 – Metro Orlando EDC
For additional information or to RSVP, e-mail or call Amy Edge at Amy.Edge@OrlandoEDC.com or (407) 422-7159 x243.

World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
Presented by: The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), American Chemical Society (ACS) and the National Agriculture Biotechnology Council (NABC)
Wednesday, April 20 - Friday, April 22 – Walt Disney World Swan
For event information, visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/.

Prism Math and Science Summit
Thursday, April 21 – Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando
For event information or to RSVP, e-mail or call Lisa Dishman at lisa.dishman@orlando.org or (407) 835-2451.

2005 Medical Device Symposium
Presented by: Florida Medical Manufacturers’ Consortium
Tuesday, April 26 - Wednesday, April 27 – Wyndham Westshore Hotel, Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.flamedmfg.org/.

IT Business Value & Leadership in Government & Corporate America
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Friday, April 29 – Westin Grand Bohemian, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.orbit.ucf.edu/EBupcoming.asp.

Leadership Strategies & Best Practices Impacting the Florida High Tech Corridor
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Thursday, May 12 - Friday, May 13 – Orlando Science Center
For event information, visit http://www.orbit.ucf.edu/LEupcoming.asp.

Second Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference
Presented by: The Florida Research Consortium, 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 http://www.flatechtransfer.org.

National Events

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

Biotech 2005
Presented by: Council for Entrepreneurial Development
Tuesday, May 24 - Wednesday, May 25 – Sheraton Imperial Hotel, North Carolina
For event information, visit http://www.cednc.org/conferences/biotech/2005/.

Bio 2005
Presented by: The Biotechnology Industry Organization
Sunday, June 19 - Wednesday, June 22 – Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
For event information, visit http://www.bio.org/events/2005/.

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.

Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library

Visit the Florida High Tech Corridor link library (www.floridahightech.com)for a comprehensive list of FHTCC University Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations; Technology Groups & Programs; Workforce Boards & Organizations; Technology Incubators & Venture Capital Organizations; and Industry Organizations.