UCF and NASA Partner on New Research
The University of Central Florida recently signed a five-year renewable contract with the Kennedy Space Center to be the lead university at its new Spaceport Research and Technology Institute. This project gives university researchers, who were chosen because of their impressive work at the UCF Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), a prominent role with NASA and the technology community.

The project will allow UCF to work with NASA scientists on projects including developing better ways to make space travel safer and less expensive, monitoring space traffic with satellites and creating the technology to detect corrosion on space shuttles without having to remove tiles. Universities could “help open up missions to Mars and the moon and make them more affordable,” said Mike O’Neal, NASA’s assistant to the chief technologist for university research at the Kennedy Space Center.

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

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

UCF Professor Receives Patent for Compounds that
Could Fight Cancer
University of Central Florida chemistry professor Howard Miles has received a patent for a new organic compound that could help make cancer treatments less costly and reduce their side effects. Drugs made from the new compound, along with 14 other compounds Miles has created with help from Russian researchers, appear to be effective in fighting diseases such as leukemia, breast cancer, bone cancer and tuberculosis. As Miles’ compounds have a lower toxicity level than other compounds, treatments have less side effects. Also, since the medicines will be created synthetically, they will be less costly and more readily available than drugs produced in nature.

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

It’s Time to Submit Your Proposals for 2004 Grants
Accomplishing the Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s mission of attracting, retaining and growing high tech industry is made possible, in large part, by funding the development of exciting new technologies. In 2003, the Council provided $3.5 million to research – which was matched by $8 million in corporate and federal funds – for a total of $11.5 million spent on research in this year alone.

Many state, federal, private and internal grants are now available for 2004 including grants pertaining to general research, homeland security, biosciences and technology. For USF grant listings and information visit www.research.usf.edu or contact Dick Streeter at 813-974-5458. For UCF grant listings and information visit www.research.ucf.edu or contact Tom O’Neal at 407-882-1120.

For additional information, visit www.harris.com.

Corridor Leads in Defense Budgets
A recent study conducted for Enterprise Florida by the University of West Florida Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development concluded that state defense spending is in excess of $44 billion a year, which is almost 10 percent of Florida’s gross product. This information is useful to Congress and the military as they are gearing up to do military base reviews and closures.

The study also found that research and development in the fields of simulation and laser sensor sectors are Central Florida’s chief asset in the defense industry. Orlando and Tampa Bay have more defense spending than any other part of the state. In 2002, Orange County alone had $3.12 billion in defense spending.

For additional information, visit uwf.edu/survey.

Look for news on upcoming techCAMPS in early 2004!

For additional information, visit www.floridahightech.com.

For additional information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com.

DNAPrint worked with the University of South Florida as a private sector partner in the External Matching Grant program.

“This transaction recognizes the value of companies like DNAPrint—companies that are not afraid to take scientific risks, companies that develop technologies that are neglected or unforeseen by others, and companies that devote their efforts to rapidly commercializing products for underserved markets,” said Tony Frudakis founder and CSO.

For additional information, visit www.dnaprint.com.

DRS Technologies Wins U.S. Army Contract
The U.S. Army has recently awarded DRS Technologies Inc. a $20.3 million contract to supply rugged Appliqué Computer Systems for the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) program. Installed on M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks and M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles, these systems support the Army’s Blue Force Tracking requirements, which include beyond line-of-sight reporting and tracking, as well as significant improvements in vertical and horizontal information integration for incorporation into the Army’s overall battlefield visualization efforts. The systems will be installed at the DRS Tactical Systems Unit in Palm Bay.

For additional information, visit www.drs.com.

Rohwedder, Inc. To Produce Vacuum
Vessel Innovations
Orlando-based Rohwedder, Inc. is teaming up with Precision Metal Works to develop a prototype vacuum vessel and to manufacture hardware techniques for the National Compact Stellarator Experiment. This project will be led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The primary goal of the project is to focus on critical aspects of developing this vessel such as accurate fabrication of vessel ports, complex shape forming, tolerance control, production of vacuum quality welds with low distortion and timely, low-cost fabrication.

For additional information, visit 159808.t-wp.de.

Florida Tech Freshman Awarded Prestigious Honors
Florida Tech freshman, Jason Schuler was one of only two students in the nation chosen for the U.S. Army Operation Cherry Blossom Award for his design of a robotics/artificial intelligence project. He will be recognized for his accomplishments by traveling to Japan to meet with military VIPs, U.S. dignitaries and the Japanese Royal family at the U.S. Embassy. Schuler created two identical robots, each capable of walking and learning via artificial intelligence. The robots can determine a routine that uses the most efficient sequence of movements to successfully execute steps. The robots can communicate with each other for cooperative learning.

For additional information, visit www.fit.edu.

Navy Selects Northrop Grumman for Rangefinder
and Target Designator
Apopka’s Northrop Grumman Laser Systems has been granted a $22 million contract from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center. The contract calls for the laser business to create a portable laser device that can measure distances, which will allow targets for laser-guided weapons to be identified by ground forces. The Navy has named the mechanism the Special Operation Forces Laser Marker, or SOFLAM. Work under the contract is expected to be completed by February 2006.

For additional information, visit www.irconnect.com.

Sponsors Join Orlando’s “Money & Media Show” at
Hard Rock Live
Florida’s digital/dynamic media sector is rapidly emerging for the future of digital entertainment. The “Money & Media Show,” which is the premier State-of-the-Media Industry conference, will be held at Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando on February 11, 2004. The event will highlight industry innovations on cable, broadband-Internet, satellite, broadcast, motion picture, simulation, VoIP, radio, WiFi, Video game development and digital media.

For additional information, visit www.multichannelventures.com.

Update Your Info in 2004!
The FHTCC is currently updating its contact information of monthly newsletter subscribers. If you or your company currently receives the FHTCC monthly eNewsletter, please send your company name, address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address, to pressroom@floridahightech.com.Your information will be used to notify you of important business events, proposal deadlines and grants that are available in your region. The Corridor does not share or sell its database to others.

How to Start a Business
Presented by: Pinellas County Business Development Center
Thursday, January 15 - 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
To register call (727) 453-7200 or e-mail businesshelp@siliconbay.org

“Survivor” Marketing Series
Presented by: The UCF Technology Incubator
Tuesday, January 20 - Disney/SBA National Entrepreneurial Center, Orlando, FL
For event information, contact Jennifer Oldham at
(407) 882-2801

How to Do Business with Pinellas County
Thursday, January 22 - 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
To register call (727) 453-7200 or e-mail businesshelp@siliconbay.org

2004 Florida Venture Capital Conference
Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23 -
The Peabody, Orlando, FL
Cost: Before January 8, $399; after January 8, $449; at the door, $549
For event information, visit www.flvencap.org

World Trade Center Orlando Global Business
Seminar/Luncheon
Topic: EU Accession in Central & Eastern Europe: Benefits & Pitfalls of Doing Business
Guest Speaker: Lynn Whiteheart, International Trade Specialist, Central & Eastern Europe Business Information Center
Wednesday, January 28 –
The Citrus Club, Orlando, FL
11:00 a.m. Registration, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Program/Lunch
Cost: $40 Non-Members, $30 WTCOR Members (WTCOR has also extended its member rate of $30 to all HTCC eNewsletter subscribers.)
For event information, visit www.worldtradecenterorlando.orgor e-mail info@worldtradecenterorlando.org.

The UCF Leadership Edge – Leadership Strategies & Best Practices Impacting the Florida High Tech Corridor
Presented by: UCF Orbit
Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16 – Orlando Science Center, Orlando, FL
For event information, visit www.orbit.ucf.edu.

Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor