Florida High Tech Corridor Expands
To increase the state's ability to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) welcomes the University of Florida (UF) as a full partner in the economic development initiative founded in 1996 by the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of South Florida (USF).

President of UF, Dr. J. Bernard Machen, stated "The work that has been done by UCF and USF is groundbreaking economic development strategy and we see a bright future working together." UF has pledged to invest $2 million annually in the Corridor Council's matching grant research program.

"Our research has shown that by inviting the University of Florida to participate there will be a highly positive impact for companies and communities in the region we serve," said USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft. "Our three institutions not only have world-class strengths in their own right, but a unique ability to put faculty, students and research capabilities together in a joint venture of incredible promise to emerging industry."

UCF President John Hitt said, "Companies in our region and those that wish to come here will find that this partnership is greatly enhanced by the collaboration of our three institutions. Our ability to help them develop and commercialize new technologies through matching grant research programs and our work to provide a qualified workforce has taken a big step forward."

FHTCC President Randy Berridge remarked that "This initiative has already been recognized nationwide and internationally as a powerful collaborative concept and now we boast not two but three of America's great universities working together for the good of their region. Our ability to bring them together with our local economic development partners and the community colleges that serve the region is an unmatched tool."

For additional information, visit www.floridahightech.com.

Hiring Outlook for IT Professionals Optimistic
According to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report, chief information officers (CIOs) expect a net upswing in IT hiring of 14 percent in the Orlando metro area.
 

Executives at the largest firms throughout the country (with 1,000 or more employees) are most optimistic about IT hiring activity and cited business expansion as the primary driver for IT hiring.

According to the report, businesses are actively seeking professionals with Microsoft Windows administration skills, checkpoint firewall administration and wireless network management skills. Networking remains the specialty most in demand.

For additional information, visit www.kpdx.com

FHTCC Offers Free Marketing Tool for Corridor Companies
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) recently launched FloridaTechMart, a Web-based marketplace that connects technology suppliers with buyers of their products and services. This free, searchable online database lists more than 1,800 technology companies that reside within the 23-county Corridor.

A listing in FloridaTechMart's database can provide greater exposure for Corridor companies, both locally and nationally. Plus, it provides them the opportunity to highlight their products and services useful to businesses and government agencies.

To get your company listed, visit www.floridatechmart.com and click "Register." Enter your personal information, create a LoginID and password, click "Submit" and complete your profile. You will receive an e-mail which contains your LoginID and password. Use this information to log on to the site and click "Modify Company(s)" to update your company's profile. Remember, the more information you add about your company's products and services, the better the chance that your company's listing will come up in someone's search.

EA Announces ESPN Agreement
Electronic Arts (EA) has announced a long-term agreement for the development and integrated marketing of EA SPORTS games containing ESPN content.

The agreement gives EA access to ESPN programming, personalities and integrated marketing opportunities on ESPN television programming and other ESPN properties. The ESPN integration will appear in EA SPORTS console, handheld, PC and wireless games beginning in 2006 upon the conclusion of ESPN’s existing video game licensing commitments.

“This relationship was created to benefit consumers who are passionate about sports games,” said Larry Probst, Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO. “EA SPORTS recreates the real life experience fans enjoy while watching or playing their favorite sport; while ESPN programming captures the look, sound and excitement of the sports they follow.”

For additional information, visit www.ea.com

UCF Partners with Military for Modeling and Simulation
UCF officials and military and government leaders recently dedicated the new Partnership II Building at the Central Florida Research Park to continue to strengthen and grow the partnership between the University of Central Florida (UCF), the military and the industry in modeling and simulation.

The $20.5 million, five-story building adjacent to UCF's main campus, will house UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training as well as the Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) and the Marine Corps' Program Manager for Training Systems.

Officials stressed the importance of using the research labs for modeling and simulation technology to better prepare and equip U.S. troops and to strengthen national security.

For additional information, visit news.ucf.edu

USF Spin-Off Company Saneron CCEL Wins Federal Grant
Tampa-based Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology R&D startup company, and the University of South Florida (USF) were awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant and a new patent for a novel approach to cell therapy. The grant comes from the National Institute of Health, and it will advance research to treat spinal cord injury using Sertoli cells and cells from umbilical cord blood.

The $150,000 grant is the latest in a series of six SBIR/STTR grants that Saneron and USF have collaborated on in their efforts to create cellular therapies for neurological disorders.

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

Cyterra to Assist in Homeland Security
Orlando-based Cyterra, a company focused on the development and production of technology solutions to combat terrorism, announced that it has been awarded $3 million in four new contracts. The contracts include the development of systems that will help detect explosives and weapons at the nation's airports, seaports and border crossings.

The contracts were awarded to begin development of a pair of automated explosive trace sampling systems that will be capable of testing checked luggage, pallets of cargo and inside large cargo containers for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Additionally, the contracts were given to develop VIPUR (Virtual Patdown Using Radar) and PAWS (Pressure Activated Wand Sampler). VIPUR will be designed to detect concealed objects and explosives on people, and PAWS will be designed as a hand-held sampling system that harvests traces of explosive particles at security checkpoints.

For additional information, visit www.cyterracorp.com

Corridor Community College up for Best-Practice Award
Valencia Community College (VCC) was honored by Education Commissioner John Winn and Community Colleges Chancellor David Armstrong as one of the semi-finalists for the 2004-2005 MetLife Foundation's Best-Practice College Award.

The Award's purpose is to acknowledge and reward community colleges for outstanding performance in student retention. The $10,000 award is made possible by the MetLife Foundation Initiative Student Success: Community College Connections and the Community College Leadership Program.

Semi-finalist college selection was determined by the institutions' scores on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), a survey recently taken by students at community colleges across the country. The college's scores on categories such as: active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction and support for learners were higher than national and Florida averages.

For additional information, visit www.flboe.org

USF Program Offers High Tech Volunteers
Through a University of South Florida (USF) College of Engineering community service program called "CSE (Computer Science and Engineering) Volunteers," 14 information systems students worked with Hillsborough County's Instructional Information and Technology Division staff to manage the school district's large-scale IT operations. The students volunteered for four hours every week during the past semester at six Hillsborough County schools.

The schools received technical support such as removing spyware, installing network cards, resolving hardware problems, connecting computers to display on televisions, and revamping old donated PCs to construct seven fully functional computers.

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

UCF Teams Up for Human and Machine Cognition Research
University of Central Florida (UCF) President John Hitt signed an agreement with Kenneth Ford, CEO of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) to further establish joint research projects, faculty appointments and other combined efforts, particularly in the areas of computer science and simulation and training.

Although IHMC and UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training have already teamed up on a number of research projects in the past, this agreement will help foster a wider range of collaborative research in human and machine recognition.

For additional information, visit news.ucf.edu.

Technology Grant Awarded to Osceola County
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded the Osceola County Government with the COPS 2004 Technology Grant. The grant totaling $395,791 will be used to upgrade and implement coordinating systems for Osceola County's Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management Systems.

The new systems will allow all agencies involved in crime analysis and emergency responses to be more efficient.

For additional information, visit www.osceola.org.

Did You Know?
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council, along with other Central Florida economic development organizations, produced a unique economic development promotion featuring Orlando's hometown comedian in Carrot Top's Great American Beer & Bathroom Break. The commercial, which aired during the half-time intermission of the Capital One Bowl, challenged tradition with a different look at Central Florida … high tech industry.

For additional information, visit www.orlandoworks.com.

Corridor People in the News
Congratulations to Maureen Brockman of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission who has been appointed chair of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's marketing committee for 2005.

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:

TechNet 2005
Presented by: AFCEA/AUSA
Tuesday, January 25 - Friday, January 28 - Radisson University Hotel
For event information, visit www.afcea.org
To register, visit www.riptidesoftware.com.

G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit
Presented by: BreakAway Games, LtdGames, Florida Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Modeling, Simulation & Training Magazine (Halldale Publishing), and National Center for Simulation
Wednesday, January 26 - Friday, January 28 - Renaissance Resort
For event information, visit www.synergysummit.com

The Florida Venture Capital Conference
Presented by: The Florida Venture Forum, Inc.
Thursday, January 27 - Friday, January 28 - The Omni Resort at ChampionsGate
For event information, visit www.floridaventureforum.org

National Events

The following are events taking place outside of the Corridor, which readers may be interested in traveling to:

Photonics West 2004 Program
Presented by: SPIE
Monday, January 24 - Saturday, January 29 – San Jose Convention Center San Jose, CA
For event information, visit www.spie.org

Grants 101: Professional Grant Proposal Writing Workshop
Presented by: The Grant Institute
Monday, January 31 - Wednesday, February 2 - FSU, Student Svcs. Bldg.
For event information, visit www.thegrantinstitute.com

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) and the University of South Florida.(www.usf.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/linkslibary.