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INSIDE FLORIDA’S HIGH TECH
CORRIDOR |
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Web archive |
July2004 |
FHTCC Serves as Example for South Florida
South Florida counties are shifting their economic strategy. Leaders
in the South Florida area are seeking to pool their assets
regionally to ease competition among each other and to better
contend with other regions around the country. The shift will also
provide them with more exposure leading to an increase in potential
business opportunities.
Key South Florida decision makers are modeling their new economic
structure after extremely successful economic partnerships such as
the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, which partners with its
regional economic organizations.
In June, South Florida public and private economic development
groups met to discuss future regional efforts at the 2004 South
Florida Economic Summit. Gov. Jeb Bush, the keynote speaker,
commended the regional partnership of the Florida High Tech Corridor
Council for its ability to work as a team in addressing critical
local issues and completing high-profile projects within the
Corridor. He also singled it out as one of the best examples of a
successful regional partnership.
For more information regarding the summit, please visit
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Florida Represented at International BIO Convention
Eight Florida companies attended the BIO 2004 Annual International
Convention held in San Francisco in June. Industry executives from
Enterprise Florida, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s
Space Coast, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, Tampa Bay
Partnership, Pinellas County Economic Development Department,
University of Central Florida, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce,
and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council spoke with attendees about
bio opportunities available in the state.
Conference enrollment exceeded 17,000. There were representatives from
61 countries, 49 U.S. states including the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico and 10 Canadian provinces.
Gov. Jeb Bush also hosted a private reception at the convention to
discuss Florida’s high tech opportunities. The governor addressed
roughly 200 key life science decision makers.
For additional information, visit
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UCF Creating Video Game Training Academy
The University of Central Florida (UCF) and Electronic Arts (EA) are
developing the UCF Interactive Entertainment Academy for video game
software. Experienced software programmers will teach students how
to design, program and test video games.
The new school is largely funded by a $4.2 million state grant. It
will open in fall 2005 and will likely be located in downtown
Orlando. The degree program will produce about 100 highly skilled
video game engineers per year.
For more information about the new video game academy, visit
. For information on Electronic Arts, visit
.
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Professor Discovers Similarity between
Earth and Jupiter
University of South Florida (USF) professor Dr. Boris Galperin
recently presented results of a study to a Columbia University
conference. The study, conducted by Galperin and his colleagues at
the USF College of Marine Science, links the currents of Earth’s
oceans and the alternating bands of current on Jupiter by a
phenomenon called zonal jets. Both sets of these jets are the result
of an underlying turbulent flow regime common in nature.
Dr. Galperin’s findings were published in “Geophysical Research
Letters.”
For additional information, visit
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Pinellas to Launch New
Business Incubator
This fall, Pinellas County will launch a new business incubator, which
will be housed in the newly renovated STAR Technology Enterprise
Center. The center is located on the campus of the Young-Rainey STAR
Center business park. The County has donated 20,000 square feet for
office and manufacturing space.
The incubator’s committee hopes to recruit technology and
manufacturing businesses to reside in the new space. They plan on
providing benefits to the companies such as reduced rent and business
counseling from local experts.
For additional information, contact Tonya Clark at (727) 549-6435 or
visit .
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techCAMP Introduces Educators to Simulation
Industry More than 20 Manatee and Sarasota County educators attended the June
Modeling, Simulation, & Training (MS&T) techCAMP held by techPATH—an
initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council.
Middle and high school math teachers, science teachers and
counselors learned about multiple types of simulation including
human patient simulators. They received an overview of the
simulation industry, simulation technology (sim tech) jobs and
requirements to assist them in preparing their students for a
successful future in the MS&T industry.
The workshop was held at the Center for Innovation and Technology at
Manatee Community College (MCC) Lakewood Ranch and included a tour
of Manatee Technical Institute.
For additional information on techPATH programs, visit
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St. Petersburg College Named One of “Florida’s Best”
St. Petersburg College was honored with a Florida’s Best Award for its
Quality Process Technician Program. The award was presented by the
Office of Workforce Education of the Florida Department of Education,
and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Florida’s Best recognizes
programs showing exemplary work in building partnerships between
business and educational institutions to create job opportunities for
students.
St. Petersburg College’s Quality Process Technician Program, funded in
part by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, is a technician
certificate program that fills the educational training gap that
exists between general technicians and engineers. Baxter HealthCare
was instrumental in starting the program.
Congratulations to all winners of this year’s Florida’s Best Awards.
For additional information, visit
.
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Professor’s Research
to Impact Pharmaceutical Production
University of South Florida (USF) Department of Chemistry Chair, Dr.
Mike Zaworotko has discovered new functions of active pharmaceutical
ingredients (API’s) through his work in crystal engineering. These
findings have led to further research and a licensing agreement with
TransForm Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Zaworotko’s research will impact the formulation of drugs, which
is the key to patenting pharmaceuticals and making them work
effectively. The co-crystals discovered also broaden the number of
“forms” that can be made for a pharmaceutical.
For more information, please visit,
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UCF Named
“Best New Alliance Partner”
The University of Central Florida (UCF) was named one of two “Best New
Alliance Partners” by the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program.
The NASA-funded agency honored UCF out of 25 nominees for its work in
providing technical help to small businesses in space-related
industries.
UCF professors have provided free services to businesses including:
improving finishes for wood floors; recommending motors and
controllers for a new clock; and helping to make washing machines more
efficient.
For additional information, visit
.
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Orange County Road
Expansion Proposed
Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty has proposed to extend Orlando’s
Avalon Parkway in order to create an East Orange County High Tech
Corridor. This $12 million road would link the University of Central
Florida with the Orlando International Airport.
The road expansion could potentially expand the Central Florida
Research Park, creating 10,000 high tech, high-paying jobs. Easier
access to major highways and the Kennedy Space Center could also
attract high tech companies to the Corridor.
For additional information, visit page four of
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Research Companies Unveil Mobile Bio-Med
Technology
AJT & Associates and SAIC have unveiled their new Mobilis Systems
mobile medical lab isolation unit to hospitals, health care
organizations and emergency response teams. The self-contained unit
features wastewater treatment, ozone decontamination, and
disinfection and computerized control systems.
The Mobilis units offer options including medical isolation,
analysis and containment of infectious disease, biochemical research
laboratory, medical diagnostics, morgue and a WMD/HAZMAT command,
and control and isolations facilities. The units range in price from
$150,000 to $350,000.
For additional information, visit
or
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UCF ORBIT Presents
Executive Briefing
UCF ORBIT will present its 7th executive briefing in a series, “The
Global Market & Internal Business Demand … Driving Change in IT
Organizations.” The briefing will cover what defense; homeland
security; modeling, simulation and training; and health care sectors
have in common in the Florida High Tech Corridor. The event will occur
Tuesday, July 20, 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Westin Grand Bohemian
in downtown Orlando.
For event information and registration, visit
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Genome Exhibit Explains
DNA Research Capabilities
The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa is hosting a new exhibit
that explains scientific possibilities of human DNA. The exhibit
titled “Genome: The Secret of How Life Works,” explores how the
secret codes within human genes make us who we are.
Scientists hope that the event will create a better understanding of
human gene capabilities. Researchers are attempting to use DNA
research to alter and even conquer hereditary diseases. They are
also using this knowledge to develop the technology to replace
defective genes through gene therapy. The fundamental causes of
illness and thus the drugs to treat them would dramatically be
altered.
Organizers expect more that five million people to attend the
exhibit as it tours 15 cities over the next five years.
To learn more about this exhibit, please www.mosi.org.
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New Web Site Feature
Links YOU to the High Tech Corridor
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council Web site has recently been
updated to provide a more convenient way of accessing our Web site
links. Thanks to the new comprehensive “link library,” visitors can
click a button on the home page and have access to resourceful high
tech Web sites in a variety of categories: FHTCC University
Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations;
Technology Groups & Programs; Workforce Boards & Organizations;
Technology Incubators & Venture Capital Organizations; and Industry
Organizations.
To visit the link library, click,
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Did You
Know?
Florida is actually the convergence point of the entire nation’s
networks of fiber optic lines. These lines allow voice and data
transmission and the undersea telecommunications links to connect
North America with countries all over the world. Additionally, two
of the country’s Network Access Points are based in Florida, which
handle great Internet traffic within the U.S. and between the U.S.
and other countries.
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Corridor
People in the News
Chemistry professor Gerry Meisels celebrates his tenth year of
directing the Coalition for Science Literacy program at the
University of South Florida to improve science and math education.
The program is aimed at making math and science lessons fun by
teaching educators a “hands-on” approach to spark their students’
interest in the subjects.
Becky Cherney of Orlando was appointed to the editorial board of
“Biotechnology Health Care” a new, national health care magazine. As
the president and CEO of the Florida Health Care Coalition, Cherney
decided to take on this new position to keep her organization up to
date on nationwide health care developments.
Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike
Meidel was named new director of Pinellas County Economic
Development.
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Calendar of
Events
The following are events
taking place across the Corridor's 21-county region, which readers
may be interested in attending:
“One-Stop Shop” for
Entrepreneurs
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Tuesday, July
13 – Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center
For event
information, visit
.
Executive Briefing – “The Global Market
& Internal Business Demand … Driving Change in IT
Organizations” What do Defense – Homeland Security – MS&T –
& Health Care Sectors Have in Common in the Florida High Tech
Corridor?
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Tuesday, July 20
– Westin Grand Bohemian (Johann Strauss Ballroom)
For event
information, visit
.
PE Electrical Review & EIT/FE Online
Review
Presented by: Pinellas County chapter of the
Florida Engineering Society & University of South Florida’s
FEEDS department
Enroll by Thursday, July 15
Thursday, July
22 – Electrical Review (12 weeks) begins
Monday, August 2 –
EIT/FE Review (10 weeks) begins
For event information, visit
.
NCS & MACF Joint Membership
Meeting
Presented by: National Center for Simulation
(NCS) & Manufacturers Association of Central Florida (MACF)
Wednesday, July 28 – UCF Institute for Simulation and
Training, Central Florida Research Park
For event information,
visit
.
South Florida Technology
Show
Thursday, August 12 – Signature Grand, Ft.
Lauderdale
For event information, visit
.
IT Florida Awards Gala
Thursday,
August 12 & Friday, August 13 – Walt Disney World Contemporary
Resort
For event information, visit.
UCF School of Optics LSO
Course
Presented by: Laser Institute of
America
Monday, August 16 – Tuesday, August 17 – UCF CREOL
For event information, visit
.
SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation
Seminar
Sponsored by: TRDA’s Florida/NASA Business
Incubation Center
Friday, August 20 – Melbourne/Palm Bay Area
Chamber of Commerce
For event information, visit
.
OAUG Connection Point
2004
Presented by: Oracle Applications Users
Group
Sunday, September 12 – Wednesday, September 15, 2004
–
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel
For event
information, visit
.
Innovation Florida 2004
Conference
Presented by: Central Florida Innovation
Corporation and UCF Technology Incubator
Early Registration by
Sunday, August 15
Wednesday, September 29 – The Ballroom at
Church Street, Orlando
For event information, visit
.
Launching the Vision: BioFlorida’s
7th Annual Conference
Sunday, October 17
& Monday, October 18 – Boca Raton Marriott
For event
information, visit
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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 (www.ucf.edu) and the University
of South Florida (). For more information visit our Web
site at (), or contact one of the
region’s economic development partners listed at
.
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
.
Central Florida Development Council
Citrus County EDC
Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space
Coast
Enterprise Flagler
Enterprise Florida, Inc.
Greater Tampa Committee of
100
Highlands County EDC
Lakeland Economic Development
Council
Manatee Economic Development
Council
Metro Orlando
Economic Development Commission
Ocala/Marion County Economic
Development Council
Pasco Economic Development
Council
Pinellas County
Department of Economic Development
Sarasota County Committee for Economic
Development
Seminole County Department of
Economic Development
St. Petersburg Economic
Development
Sumter County EDC
Tampa Bay Partnership
Volusia County
Department of Economic Development
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