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| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH TECH
CORRIDOR |
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December 2007 |
UCF Team Creates Energy-Efficient Plug-In
Hybrid Car
A team from the University of Central Florida's Center for Energy
and Sustainability has recently developed the university's first
plug-in hybrid car, thought to be the first plug-in car developed
in the state of Florida.
The transformed 2007 Toyota Prius runs on an electric motor
and its 20 added rechargeable 12-volt batteries until the vehicle
reaches 35 mph, when it will switch to its gas engine.
In addition to an expected 30 percent reduction in emissions,
it only costs approximately 70 cents worth of electricity for
the same amount of energy that's in a gallon of gasoline. The
team plans on using the car to teach the public about energy
saving options for transportation.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article&id=00240041045494c8d01161d3164c1007c79&mode=news.
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USF Licenses Patent for Detecting Ovarian Cancer
The University of South Florida (USF) Research Foundation has
entered into an agreement to license a new medical technology
aimed at providing an early-detection test for ovarian cancer.
Without a test to look for signs of the disease's beginning
stages currently on the market, the diagnostic urine test developed
by Largo-based GeoPharma Inc, and its partner researchers at
USF's H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
has the potential to save thousands of lives.
Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of all gynecological cancers,
but it is also the most treatable if detected earlier. Only
20 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the early
stages of the disease, and the chance of survival is reduced
by 60 percent once it spreads from the ovary.
While USF scientists have conducted initial clinical studies
with the test, GeoPharma will begin the process for FDA approval.
For more information, visit http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=455&z=10.
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UF Announces Plans for New Technology Incubator
The University of Florida's fast-growing technology transfer
program will soon receive a major enhancement – up to
160,000 square feet of laboratory and office space dedicated
to life science- and technology-focused start up companies.
Dubbed "The Innovation Center," the project's first
phase will include an 80,000-square- foot state-of-the-art facility
housed on campus to be completed by 2010. The developer of the
incubator is Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., the largest
dedicated life science property and innovation specialist worldwide.
As the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator has reached its capacity,
this incubator will provide more laboratory space for technology
entrepreneurs who in the past have garnered more than $260 million
in life sciences research awards.
For more information, visit
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/11/30/innovation-center.
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TBTF Unveils
Winners at 4th Annual Industry Achievement Awards
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), an FHTCC partner, recently
awarded five organizations and one individual for outstanding
achievements. Presented in part by the Florida High Tech Corridor
Council, more than 400 professionals in the field of technology
attended the black-tie gala held last month. The director of
Business Development of Engineering and Systems at SRI International,
Peter Marcotullio, presented the keynote address.
Eric Williams, executive vice president and chief information
officer of Catalina Marketing Corporation was named CIO of the
year. The five organizations to also garner awards were Idatix,
Emerging Company of the Year; IC Intracom, Innovation of the
Year; UTEK Corporation, Professional Services Company of the
Year; Eclipse Energy Systems, Inc., Quantum Leap Technology
of the Year; and, Syniverse Technologies, Community Outreach
Honoree.
For more information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.
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Florida Innovation Showcase 2008 to
Feature the Best in Emerging Technology
Presented in part by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council,
the Florida Innovation Showcase 2008 will take place at the
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort on March 19 and 20, 2008.
The conference showcases Florida's cutting-edge university technologies
and research competencies, as well as allows visitors to meet
the researchers behind the technology of tomorrow.
The event will demonstrate the latest in emerging Laser and
Optics technologies and feature keynote speaker Milton Chang,
expert entrepreneur in commercializing optics technologies.
Considered to be one of the most successful entrepreneurs in
the tech field with over 35 years experience, Chang will discuss
his experience with technology incubation and steps to succeed
in tech commercialization.
The early registration deadline for the conference is February
1, 2008.
For more information, visit http://www.FLinnovation.org.
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FIT Offers Academic Programs
Available Completely Online
Extending its offering of Virtual Campus programs, Florida Institute
of Technology (FIT) now offers 11 new undergraduate and graduate
degrees online including a Bachelor's of Science in Computer
Information Systems and a Master's of Science in Information
Technology.
FIT has partnered with Tampa-based University Alliance Online,
e-learning provider of degree and certificate programs from
some of the nation's leading universities and institutions,
to provide these new programs entirely on the web. In addition
to using features such as online chat rooms and message boards,
students can download video files of the same lectures held
on FIT's Melbourne campus any time day or night.
For more information, visit http://www.floridatechonline.com.
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Corridor Teachers Explore
Modeling, Simulation & Training Industry at techCAMP
Last month, 43 Corridor science teachers were introduced to
the Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) industry
at a two-day techCAMP workshop held at the University of Central
Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Hosted by
the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, techCAMP is part of
the Council's techPATH initiative to promote high tech careers
to middle and high school students in the region.
Through presentations from academic, industrial and military
simulation experts, the teachers from Orange, Seminole, Lake,
Osceola and Volusia counties learned about the diverse opportunities
for careers in simulation and the education needed to fulfill
various job positions within the MS&T industry. As part
of the program, the teachers visited the Interservice/Industry
Training, Simulation & Education Conference at the Orange
County Convention Center and were given physics simulation software
to take back to their classrooms to make science education more
interesting for their students.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/initiatives/techCAMP.html.
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UCF Helps
Local Company to Reduce Solar Power Costs
Technology from the University of Central Florida (UCF) is helping
Petra Solar to simplify the design and reduce the costs of installing
solar power.
Using venture capital funding to expand into offices in central
Florida, New Jersey-based Petra Solar moved near UCF's campus
to license the university's new solar technology that enables
simple installations of residential solar power systems at a
reduced cost. Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Science at UCF, Issa Batarseh, along with a team of UCF researchers
and students, developed the technology necessary to make the
conversion process in solar panels compatible with domestic
electricity grids.
For more information, visit http://www.research.ucf.edu/News/PetraSolar.html.
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UF's Sid Martin Biotechnology
Incubator Launches BioDatabase Site
The University of Florida's (UF) Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator
recently launched the Florida BioDatabase, a free online Web
resource with the latest information on Florida's bioscience
industry and biotechnology companies.
Updated several times a year, this Web site features an in-depth
analysis of Florida's biotech and biomed industry, including
the ability to track areas with high concentrations of companies
and investment changes over the years. A recent finding from
the site shows that more than half of Florida's 134 biotech
and biomedical device companies were founded in the last six
years, and investment in those companies has more than tripled
since 2005.
Among the data included is information on a company's founding
date, ownership, products, clinical trial activity, market sector
and research focuses.
For more information, visit http://www.FloridaBioDatabase.com.
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Moffitt
Cancer Center Breaks Ground on M2Gen
Last month, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
broke ground on its wholly-owned subsidiary, M2Gen, a partnership
between Moffitt and drug maker Merck & Co.
Using molecular technology to develop personalized cancer treatment,
M2Gen researchers will study collected tumor tissues in order
to determine rapid improvement and fewer side effects. More
than 10,000 patients have consented to donate their tissues
to aid scientists in identifying the biological markers unique
to each tumor.
Scheduled to begin January 2008, construction company Skanska
USA Building Inc. and architect RS&H (Reynolds, Smith and
Hills Inc.) expect completion in one year.
For more information, visit http://www.moffitt.org/site.aspx?spid=6ED0D4F3941D4192AC17224864C3C943.
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Motion Capture DiMeNar to
Present Leading Experts in Digital Media
Presented by Digital Media Alliance Florida, the Motion Capture
DiMeNar (short for Digital Media SemiNar) will bring together
industry professionals from around the country for demonstrations
and panel presentations about a new innovation in digital media
technology: motion capture.
Held at Full Sail Real World Education on December 11, the
event will feature presenters such as EA Tiburon game developers
and producers of Sony Pictures Studios’ film “Beowulf”
who will provide insight into the uses and trends of this technology.
For more information, visit http://www.dmaflorida.org.
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Florida Hospital Establishes Global Robotics Institute
Florida Hospital recently announced their plans to develop the
Global Robotics Institute at Florida Hospital Celebration Health
and Florida Hospital Orlando.
The Institute will serve as a training site for medical conferences
and physicians from around the world, and will include GYN,
urology and cardiac robotic surgery services. Robot-assisted
surgeries are not new to the central Florida area; surgeons
at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Orlando Regional Medical
Center currently use robotic devices to aid minimally invasive
cancer operations.
For more information, visit http://www.globalroboticsinstitute.com.
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Accolades
Past Orlando EDC Chairmen Inducted into Hospitality
Hall of Fame
Pat Engfer, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Orlando International
Airport, and Dick Nunis, retired CEO of Walt Disney Parks and
Resorts, have been selected by hospitality industry executives
and faculty of UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management
as the 2008 inductees into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall
of Fame. Both Engfer and Nunis served as EDC Chairman of the
Board, Nunis in 1992-93 and Engfer in 1996-97.
Former FHTCC Council Member Honored
Dr. Sarah H. Pappas, retiring president of Manatee Community
College received a President's Award for Professional Excellence
at the Florida Association of Community Colleges statewide convention
last month. Former member of the Florida High Tech Corridor
Council and chairwoman of the Sarasota Economic Development
Corporation, Pappas will step down from her position as MCC's
fourth president in June 2008.
UCF's Dr. Eric Van Stryland Elected IEEE Fellow
The University of Central Florida's Dr. Eric Van Stryland, Dean
of the College of Optics and Photonics, and Director of CREOL
& FPCE, was recently elevated to the grade of IEEE Fellow,
one of the Institute's most prestigious honors. Van Stryland
was cited for his development of Kramers-Kronig relations to
ultrafast nonlinearities, as well as his many contributions
to nonlinear optics.
FHTCC President Randy Berridge
Among Most Influential in Tech Industry
Florida High Tech Corridor Council President Randy Berridge
has been named one of the most influential people in the technology
and entrepreneurial industry by TechJournal South. He was nominated
by venture capitalists, tech organizations and entrepreneurs
to become part of "25 of the Most Influential People in
Southeast Tech." Berridge has served as a dedicated and
innovative leader of the FHTCC for 11 years.
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Did You Know?
According to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Florida is expected
to end this year with a 1.7 percent increase in jobs, slightly
higher than the national rate of 1.4 percent. In 2005, Florida
experienced a 4 percent growth in technology jobs, which was
the second highest growth in the nation.
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Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor's
23-county region or in the surrounding area:
Meeting the Challenges of Information Management
with Microsoft SharePoint 2007
Presented by: Vertical IT Solutions and Xcelligent
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Centre Club, 123 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa
For event information, contact Kendra Diamond at kendrad@verticalit.net.
Motion Capture DiMeNar
Presented by: Digital Media Alliance Florida
Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6 to 10 p.m.
Full Sail Real World Education
3300 University Blvd., Winter Park
For event information, visit http://www.dmaflorida.org.
The World Wide Web Business Explosion
Presented by: Florida District Export Council
Thursday, January 24 and Friday, January 25, 2008
Nova Southeastern University
H. Wayne Huizenga School of
Business and Entrepreneurship
3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
For event information, visit http://www.floridaexporter.com/events.html?todo=item&orig_id=155.
UCF Continuing Education's Fiber Optics Training
Presented by: University of Central Florida
Monday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 6, 2008
UCF Main Campus
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32816
For event information, visit http://www.ce.ucf.edu/professional/FiberOpticsFlyer_07.pdf.
Florida Innovation Showcase 2008
Presented by: The Florida Research Consortium
Wednesday March 19 and Thursday March 20, 2008
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
8701 World Center Dr., Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.FLinnovation.org.
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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. |
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