FHTCC Introduces New Look for eNewsletter
Subscribers of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's eNewsletter Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor will notice a new format in this edition designed with the reader in mind. Featuring more navigational links for enhanced readability, increased editorial coverage on Florida High Tech Corridor's 10 key technology sectors, and the addition of images and other graphical elements, this new version of FHTCC's monthly eNewsletter offers expanded coverage of high tech happenings in the 23-county Corridor.

Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor also features a look at a person whose research places them among the Corridor's "Faces of Technology," the people who are driving innovation and entrepreneurship in a variety of industry sectors. April's "Faces of Technology" story highlights the work of Joe Gerek, general manager of Twyford International, and his efforts to develop long-lasting and disease-resistant plants.

Read on for news and discoveries in Florida's High Tech Corridor.

UF Researchers Target Cancer-Advancing Protein
According to a study from the University of Florida (UF), researchers have determined a protein that helps lung cancer cells to flourish while also denying healthy cells the ability to repair themselves when damaged by radiation, or chemicals (ex. nicotine). Prior research has shown that the use of nicotine activates the protein, Bc12, while the recent study explains how the protein actually prevents healthy cells from repairing themselves. In addition, the protein acts as a cloak that protects cancer cells from treatment.

UF researchers found that when the cells multiply, they then pass on their mutated form. The new study allows doctors to begin the exploration of a way to block the nicotine induced release of Bc12. This will help scientists to treat lung cancer, the No. 1 killer of all types of cancer, with chemotherapy and other treatments as well.

For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2008/02/28/cell.

UCF Expands Simulation Capabilities with $75 Million Contract
To help fund innovative modeling, simulation and training research, the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Simulation and Training Technology Center (RDECOM STTC) recently awarded the University of Central Florida (UCF) a contract for $75 million to be distributed over a five year period.

This partnership will establish a collaborative laboratory environment to develop technology that benefits the U.S. military and the simulation community. Providing an environment that encourages simulation technology development from basic to advanced research, the lab will facilitate STTC and UCF personnel and students.

RDECOM STTC has worked on many different research and development initiatives including mixed and augmented realities, computer generated forces, live virtual and constructive interoperability, and high performance/super computing.

For more information, visit http://www.rdecom.army.mil/STTC.

USF Researchers Find New Way to Help Aging Brain
Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) have injected aged laboratory animals with human umbilical cord blood cells (UCBC) to search for ways that could help revitalize the aging brain. During initial test stages, doctors have identified improvements in specific regions of the brain and a rejuvenation of the neural stem cells.

Dr. Alison Willing of the USF Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair is working to offset the brain's natural production of stem cells, which slows with increasing age. After just one treatment of the UCBC injection during the study, production of the stem cells increased within 24 hours and the production increase lasted for at least 15 days.

For more information, visit http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=397.

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
One of the Florida High Tech Corridor's ten technology sectors, Agritechnology has made great strides in the 23-county region. With more than 44,000 commercial farmers, and netting about $6.85 billion in sales of farm products, the business of agritech is undoubtedly growing.

Industry Spotlight Through its specialized agritech studies department, the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (http://www.ifas.ufl.edu) has led the way in developing innovations such as its soil-moisture monitor. This technology overrides sprinkler systems to prevent over-watering some crops and plant types thereby allowing them to set root properly. With the help of this technology, UF researchers have found a 69 - 92% water savings, compared to areas watered without the sensor (http://news.ufl.edu/2007/11/13/water-sensors). The UF program has also conducted research into salmonella spread by raw tomatoes. Recently Charles Bronson, Florida's Agriculture Commissioner, announced a grant of $253,000 to help fund training that will be led by UF to develop the most efficient means of food safety practices (http://news.ufl.edu/2007/10/11/tomatoes). The training will be offered to 30,000 tomato farm workers, growers and packers based on food safety practices in conjunction with the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Food and Drug Administration and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. A leader for agritechnology practices nationwide, Florida's program will seek to prevent the spread of these food-borne illnesses.

Another Corridor company paving the way in agritechnology is biodiesel producer Vecenergy (www.vecenergy.com). Recently awarded $2.5 million as part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, Vecenergy will construct and operate a biodiesel facility capable of producing 37.5 million gallons of biodiesel per year (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/press/2008/02262008.html). Capable of producing very consistent, high-quality, high volume biodiesel, the production facility for Vecenergy Biodiesel will produce renewable fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats.

Home to a nurturing climate for high tech research in agriculture, the Florida High Tech Corridor boasts a cluster of agritechnology that is continually growing.

FACES OF TECHNOLOGY

Power Plants: Developing High Performance Foliage
Joe Gerek, General Manager, Twyford International (http://www.twyford.com)

When consumers browse the aisles of Lowe's, Home Depot or other nurseries for tropical foliage, landscape and bedding plants, they are simply drawn to the most colorful and attractive specimens. Most never consider how remarkable it is that you can walk into a nursery in North Dakota or in South Carolina – in December – and buy the same hothouse orchid to display in your home.

Faces of Technology But Joe Gerek thinks about that every day. The trip from retail outlet to consumer's home is merely the final step in a long journey for fragile plants that began their lives in a greenhouse at his company's horticultural centers in Florida and Costa Rica.

Gerek is general manager of Twyford International, the world's largest plant tissue culture company. Founded in 1984, Twyford is headquartered at a 53-acre campus in Apopka, Fla., with offices, greenhouses, labs and an R&D building where much of its innovation occurs. Today, the company produces more than 30 million disease-indexed, high-performance ornamental, vegetable, fruit and forest starter plants for the international horticultural and agricultural marketplace each year.

For the full story, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/powerplant.pdf.

TECH BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS

Successful Career Expo Connects Companies and Schools
through Enhanced Web Site
Since hosting in February more than 75 career center directors (CCDs) from some of the nation's top universities at Career Expo '08 in Tampa, FHTCC has received impressive feedback from the CCDs and Corridor companies that attended.

"We were exposed to an extreme amount of resources that we would normally never have the opportunity to utilize. There were many fine universities represented and we are in the follow-up stages of contact with many of them. Thank you again and now that we know what to expect, we are really looking forward to the 2009 Career Expo," said Bruce Hanson from Corridor company, The Software Specialists.

"Expo was a very positive event that should yield outstanding results. I left with hundreds of opportunities for our students and newly formed relationships that I look forward to developing. You all are to be commended for an extraordinary job in connecting employers with university talent," said Mary D. Feduccia, a CCD from Louisiana State University.

In order to better facilitate establishing a hiring pipeline between the CCDs and Corridor companies, FHTCC recently expanded the Career Expo Web site to offer the contact information for all of the representatives who were at the event.

For more information visit, http://www.floridahightech.com/careerexpo.

Florida Hospital and The Burnham Institute Introduce Diabetes Institute
In a partnership between two prestigious Corridor medical organizations, Florida Hospital and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research announced a plan to build a diabetes institute in Orlando. The research facility will begin operation at a temporary location in fall 2008; while the institute is scheduled begin construction in June 2008 and to open in 2009. The Burnham Institute is donating for the purpose of clinical research institute, while Florida Hospital will provide the laboratory space, staff and patients.

With its main goal to find a cure for diabetes, the research facility will focus on the diabetic heart, which is one of the most serious complications for diabetic patients.

For more information, visit http://www.burnham.org.

Sign up for the 20th Annual Florida Statewide Job Fair
Florida employers can recruit graduates from the 10 state universities in Florida in one place at one time on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the UCF Arena. More than 150 employers and 1,500 students and alumni seeking full time positions are expected to attend the 20th Annual Florida Statewide Job Fair in Orlando. The annual statewide job fair is hosted by the Florida Career Centers, a consortium of the directors of the 10 public university career centers. The fair is currently accepting registrations from employers at an early registration fee of $550 per table, due April 18, 2008.

For more information visit, http://www.floridacareercenters.org.

Focus on Quality at Four-Day Florida Event
The 10th Annual Quality Measurement and NDT Conference, April 28 - May 1, in Clearwater Beach will feature University of South Florida's Executive Director for Research Dr. Rod Casto speaking about developing the next generation of quality technicians. The Quality Measurement and NDT Conference provides practical, real-world education about implementing quality in a manufacturing environment. Attendees include managers, engineers and technicians from companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, 3M, Caterpillar, Ford and more. Mention "VIP-1" and receive 10 percent off the conference fee and special prices on all workshops.

For more information, visit http://www.qualitymag.com/qmc.

Accolades

FHTCC Council Member Joanie Schirm Profiled as "Champion for Transit"
In the March edition of the Central Florida Partnership's firstMONDAY magazine, FHTCC Council Member Joanie Schirm is profiled as a difference-maker in Central Florida. An Orlando resident, Schirm has served on eight community boards with a focus on creating an efficient transportation plan in Central Florida. After a 35-year career, Schirm recently retired from holding the position of president of Geotechnical and Environmental Consultants, but still remains as an active FHTCC Council Member.

FHTCC Partners Support Digital Media Banner Center
Along with support from the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Workforce Florida's Chris Hart, Andra Cornelius and Tom Shiner recently delivered a signed $500,000 Digital Media Banner Contract to Seminole Community College. Focused on partnering business, industry and educational digital media (DM) institutions, the Banner Center contract will enable Florida to strengthen and streamline the education of potential DM students, current DM workers and will also serve to increase the supply of qualified digital media professionals for Florida.

Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor's 23-county region or in the surrounding area:

Turning Your Innovations Into a Successful Business:
Attracting Venture Capital and Business Partners
While Protecting Your Innovations Breakfast Seminar
Presented by: TBTF and The Association for Competition Technology (ACT)/Innovators Network
Thursday, April 3, 7:30 to 10 a.m.
Marriott Waterside Hotel, 700 S. Florida Ave., Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.innovators-network.org/index.php?option=com_events&type=
event&task=details&id=56.

Small Business Networking Event Featuring Guy Kawasaki
Presented by: Network Solutions
Wednesday, April 9, 6 to 8 p.m.
Grand Bohemian Hotel, 325 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
For event information, visit http://networksolutionsorlando.eventbrite.com.

International Business Summit 2008
Presented by: Chambers of Commerce in the Tampa Bay area
Thursday, May 1, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.ibsummit.org/default.htm.

Pinellas Living Green Expo
Presented by: Pinellas Living Green Inc.
Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St, Clearwater
For event information visit http://pinellaslivinggreenexpo.org.

CORRIDOR INDUSTRY NEWS

University Spin Game
Florida Trend
By Barbara Miracle
March 1, 2008
Success is rare and slow for spinoff companies, but the potential rewards – visibility and income – keep schools playing.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/universityspingame.pdf.

Making War-Games Simulators is Big Business
for Orlando Division of Cubic Corp.
Orlando Sentinel
By Richard Burnett
March 3, 2008
From its microchips to gun barrels, triggers to laser beams, Cubic's small-arms training simulator system has become one of the poster children in recent years for Central Florida's high-tech training industry.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/warsimulation.pdf.

Harris: $1B Now Spent on Research
Florida Today
By Scott Blake
March 7, 2008
Company spending up $100 million over last year's development budget
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/harrisspends1b.pdf.

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

Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library
For a comprehensive list of FHTCC University Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations; Technology Groups and Programs; Workforce Boards and Organizations; Technology Incubators and Venture Capital Organizations; and Industry Organizations, visit the FHTCC link library at http://www.floridahightech.com/resources/linksLibrary.html.

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