|
| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH TECH
CORRIDOR |
| Via Email |
August 2007 |
UF Researchers Give New Meaning to Artificial
Intelligence
University of Florida (UF) researchers are developing a tiny computer
chip with the capability to theoretically give a paralyzed person
the ability to move a prosthetic limb with their mind. When
inserted into the brain, the device can read signals and stimulate
inactive neurons to function properly, giving hope to patients
with paralysis or epilepsy.
Already researching the implications of the chip on rats,
scientists from the UF College of Medicine, College of Engineering
and the McKnight Brain Institute hope to develop a human
prototype of the “neuroprosthetic” within four
years. The National Institutes of Health funded the
project with a $2.5 million grant.
For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2007/07/24/brain-chip. |
UCF Partners With Holochip Corp.
on Developing Lens Technology
University of Central Florida (UCF) is partnering with Holochip
Corp., a developer and manufacturer of adaptive polymer lenses,
to sign a licensing agreement giving exclusive worldwide manufacturing
rights to a portfolio of UCF patented adaptive lens technologies.
The technologies developed by Professor of Optics Dr. Shin-Tson
Wu and his research team at UCF’s College of Optics
and Photonics will allow zoom lenses, such as those in digital
cameras and camera phones, to be manufactured at a much smaller
size without compromising quality. Picture clarity
is preserved by the lenses’ functions which closely
mimics that of a human eye.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=
article&id=0024004102c4c1d99011146fc1c3200546c. |
USF Lakeland Expands IT Program to Tampa
Modeled after the University of South Florida (USF) Lakeland’s
information technology (IT) curriculum, USF Tampa will soon offer
the program in order to expose its students to introductory IT
classes. The program, which aims to bridge the gap between
computer science and the business sector’s use of computers,
will be introduced this fall.
As the first IT classes available at USF Tampa, any student
can enroll in Introduction to Databases for IT, IT Programming
Concepts or Object-Oriented Programming for IT. Depending
on enrollment numbers, USF Tampa may offer upper-division
IT courses on campus as soon as spring 2008 and increase
the variety of online courses available. Through this expanded
IT program, students will be more prepared to serve the needs
of the 650 IT companies in the Tampa region.
For more information, visit http://www.lklnd.usf.edu/News_Releases/
Summer-2007-articles/07-02-2007-IT-Program.html. |
Florida Ranked
3rd Largest in Technology Exports at $12.4 Billion
According to AeA’s “Trade in the Cyberstates 2007” report,
Florida’s tech industry exports grew 13 percent, or $1.4
billion, over the past year making Florida the third largest tech
exporter, behind California and Texas.
With technology products totaling nearly one-third of the
state’s exports, Florida’s tech industry remains
competitive and booming. Tech exports directly support
51,900 jobs in Florida; the leading exports were computers,
communication equipment and industrial electronics.
For more information, visit
http://www.aeanet.org/PressRoom/prac_TCS_2007_florida.asp. |
Corridor Makes Strong Presence on “Tech
50” List
TechJournal South’s “Tech 50,” a ranking of the
50 most innovative companies in the Southeast, honored five Corridor
companies. Applied Plasmonics, a Gainesville-based research
and development company focusing in optical-based technology was
ranked third overall.
Nominations were evaluated based upon technology innovation,
the management team, marketplace potential and execution
success. The four other Corridor companies awarded
a slot on the “Tech 50” included NovaMin Technology
of Alachua, Tampa Bay-based companies Skyway Software and
Tower Cloud, and WiDeFi of Melbourne.
For more information, visit http://www.tech50.org./index.html. |
Corridor Universities Fare Well
at
International Naval Research Competition
Two Corridor universities triumphed in last month’s 10th
annual Autonomous Underwater Vehicle competition in San Diego,
California, sponsored by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems
International (AUVSI) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). University
of Florida (UF) and University of Central Florida (UCF) clenched
first and fifth place finishes, respectively, beating out 25 other
teams.
Students’ watercraft designs were put to the test
with tasks and obstacles to locate and transport a treasure
chest, which only UF’s design managed to accomplish. UCF
also entered vehicles in the air and surface divisions of
the competition and was the only university to place among
the top five in all three competitions.
For more information, visit http://www.auvsi.org/competitions/water.cfm. |
Three Corridor Companies Voted “Best
Places to Work in IT”
Evaluated on the basis of diversity, training, career development,
retention and benefits, three corridor companies landed spots on
Computerworld’s “100 Best Places to Work in IT 2007” list.
Newcomer to the list, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute in Tampa, took the first-place position for benefits
and seventh for retention of employees. St. Petersburg-based
Raymond James Financial made the list for the second consecutive
year, while Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. became
a three-year veteran.
For more information, visit http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?
command=viewArticleTOC&specialReportId=9000342&articleId=293235. |
UCF’s Media
Convergence Lab Brings New Reality to
Museum Exhibits
The Media Convergence Lab at the University of Central Florida
is developing high tech interactive exhibits to make virtual learning
a reality for the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science.
Guests will experience “Water’s Journey through
the Everglades” by interactively exploring a world
simulated by large display portals, virtual windows, tele-presence
cameras and environmental simulators. The five-year,
$2.84 million project will be part of the museum’s
new EcoDiscovery Wing.
For more information, visit http://www.mcl.ucf.edu. |
Lake Mary, Winter Springs Recognized
in
CNN’s“100 Best Places to Live”
Although they might be “just home” to their residents,
Lake Mary and Winter Springs have been named as two of the “100
Best Places to Live,” according to CNN.
Big economy jobs, lack of income tax and small-town feel
garnered Lake Mary the fourth place position in the nation. With
a population of more than 35,000 by day and under 14,000
by night, commuters allow for the small town within an hour
of Disney World and the beach to boom. Winter Springs’ exemplary
schools, lush parks and brand-new downtown earned it the
31st position on CNN’s list.
For more information, visit http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/top100. |
Florida Hospital
Receives Monumental Donation
Florida Hospital announced that Alan H. Ginsburg and the Ginsburg
Family Foundation donated a $20 million gift, the largest gift
in the hospital’s history, to support the Florida Hospital
Cardiovascular Institute.
To be named the Ginsburg Tower, the 15-story building, currently
under construction, will be the tallest hospital tower in
Florida, according to Florida Hospital officials. The
Cardiovascular Institute will have cutting-edge cardiovascular
technology including one of the country’s largest cardiac
catheterization labs and access to a new technology, stereotaxis,
in which procedures are performed using computerized machinery. This
new facility will contribute to Orlando’s growing prominence
in the life sciences sector as it joins the Burnham Institute
for Medical Research, the University of Central Florida’s
College of Medicine and a new Veterans Affairs hospital already
under construction.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahospitalmedicalnews.com/
news-Florida-Hospital-Foundation-id267.html. |
Corridor Extends Influence Overseas
Through China Trade Mission
The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of
Commerce of Tampa Bay have arranged an outreach program, China
Outbound Trade Mission, to facilitate Tampa’s business development
and to increase trade ties with the booming global economy of China. As
the second-largest economy in the world with a gross domestic product
of $10 trillion and 10.5 percent growth rate, China’s opportunities
for business partnerships with Florida companies are endless.
The trip overseas serves to enlighten China trade newcomers
to business strategy options and to further develop the strategy
of those companies already invested in China. With
a registration deadline of August 31, the October trip will
feature visits to Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai to gain
valuable first-hand market information.
For more information, visit http://www.tampachamber.com/files/
China2007MissionRegistrationForm.pdf. |
A Call for Nominations:
TBTF Industry Achievement Awards Now Open
The 4th annual Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) Industry Achievement
Awards Ceremony is rapidly approaching and the time for nominations
is now.
All of the six categories, CIO of the Year, Community Outreach,
Emerging Technology Company of the Year, Innovation of the
Year, Professional Services Company and Quantum Leap Technology,
require nominations. Winners will be announced at the
annual gala November 8 at the A La Carte Event Pavilion in
Tampa.
For more information, visit http://tbtf.org/projects/tbtf/5-TBTFPublicWebsite/web_awardsgala_main.htm. |
Accolades
USF Partnership Awarded Research Grant
In partnership with Tampa-based Magellan BioScience Group
Inc., University of South Florida (USF) received a research
grant totaling $350,000 from the National Institute of
Health and the Florida High Tech Corridor. Professors
from the departments of Global Health and Chemistry are
now able to advance their research and development of anti-malarial
drugs from marine microbial collections.
Soileau Appointed to Board of Directors
Dr. M.J. Soileau, University of Central Florida’s vice
president for research and founder of the Center for Research
and Education in Optics and Lasers, was appointed to the board
of directors of Winter Park-based AquaFiber Technologies, an
environmental systems company that has patented water treatment
technology.
Florida Tech Receives $60,000 in Grants
Florida Tech obtained three grants totaling $60,000 from the
Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) and Space Florida for
research and development projects to diversify Florida’s
space industry. Faculty from the Chemistry, Physics and
Space Sciences, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering departments
will utilize the award to further study rocket materials, models
and flight conditions.
Enporion Featured on Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s
Top 100
For the second consecutive year Tampa-based Enporion, a leading
provider of sourcing and procurement technology and services,
was ranked among the Top 100 supply chain management companies
in the country by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine.
Corridor Hospitals Ranked Among the Best
U.S. News & World Report rated five Corridor hospitals among
the very best in the nation in the “America’s Best
Hospitals 2007” report. The publication placed the
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa
as No. 16 on its list for its specialty in cancer. The
Shands Hospital at the University of Florida was ranked No. 20
for its specialization in respiratory disorders. Also receiving
recognition were Orlando’s Florida Hospital for endocrinology,
the Tampa General Hospital for orthopedics and Sarasota’s
Memorial Health Care System for cancer treatment. |
Did You Know?
Florida’s leading tech export sectors include computers and
peripheral equipment, exporting $4.6 billion, communications equipment,
$3 billion, and industrial electronics, exporting $1.1 billion. |
Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor’s
23-county region or in the surrounding area:
Web Marketing Trends, Strategies and Best Practices
Presented by: Find and Convert
Thursday, August 9, 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Centre Club, 123 Westshore Blvd., 8th Floor, Tampa
For event information, visit
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=
442f1675-af12-4140-9257-122cd3b2cb0d.
“Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) –
What Is It, Why Should You Use It and an Overview of How
to Use It”
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Leadership Association
Thursday, August 9, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
University of Tampa's Vaughn Center, Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
For event information, contact dalehempel@earthlink.net.
Sources of Financing – Loans & Venture Capital
Presented by: Small Business Development Center at the
University of Central Florida
Thursday, August 16, 6 to 9 p.m.
Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center,
315 E. Robinson St., Ste. 100, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.bus.ucf.edu/sbdc/seminar_calendar.html.
Tampa Bay Tech Jam 2007
Presented by: TBTF Foundation and Syniverse Technologies
Thursday, August 16, 6 to 10 p.m.
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/info/
summary.aspx?e=2fa7f024-275a-4d66-bcdd-2efc642cbee5.
FBIA Annual Meeting
Presented by: Florida Business Incubation Association
Thursday and Friday, August 16 and 17, 1 to 6:30 p.m.
TRDA Business Innovation Center
1050 West NASA Boulevard, Melbourne
For event information, visit http://www.fbiaonline.org/Events/2007/AnnualMeeting.html.
NASA Constellation Small Business Forum
Presented by: Economic Development Commission of
Florida’s Space Coast
Thursday, August 23, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott, 3435 North Atlantic Ave., Cocoa
Beach
For event information, visit http://www.spacecoastedc.org/Events/
EventDetail.aspx?Guid=c7d2759f851843f9b660b2bf2db6e23c.
Healthcare IT Network: State of the Art Technology and
Patient Focused Care: Inside Pepin Heart Hospital
Presented by: Pepin Heart Hospital
Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Pepin Heart Hospital, Wallace Conference Center, 3100 E.
Fletcher Ave., Tampa
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/
Summary.aspx?e=10a16b5c-166c-40d1-890e-2ef850f57ced.
2nd Annual Business of Biotech
Presented by: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
Research Institute
Tuesday, September 25, 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Vincent A. Stabile Research Building
12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa
For event information, visit
http://www.moffitt.org/Site.aspx?spid=60F9BB0936F44F7390C9C
B4AC14E08A8&Date=Tuesday%2C+September+25%2C+2007.
|
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 (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/linkslibrary/economic_dev_org.htm. |
Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library
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 visit the
Florida High Tech Corridor link library at http://www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary. |
|