UCF Incubator Firm Demonstrates New Hospitality Technology

The hospitality technology firm Ascenda, Inc., a University of Central (UCF)Incubator spin-off company, presented its new touch-screen guest accommodations system at the Hospitality Industry Technology Expo and Conference (HITEC) in Los Angeles, June 20-23.

The Express GuestTM system gives guests the option to check in and out of properties by using a touch-screen kiosk and allows them to select different room options, distributes room cards and prints receipts. The system is considered the world’s most affordable and efficient touch-screen guest accommodations system for middle-market hospitality properties.

The president of Ascenda has recognized the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF for assisting in the creation of the new system. For additional information, visit

http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/newscenter/2005_PressReleases/06-15_Ascenda.htm.

UF Robotic Car Selected as Semi Finalist at Grand Challenge

The NaviGATOR, a robot car built by a team of University of Florida (UF) students and faculty and outside engineers, has been named one of 40 semifinalists at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Grand Challenge.

Team CIMAR, from the UF Center for Intelligent Machines and Robots, will take the NaviGATOR to the California Speedway in Fontana this September for a chance to qualify for a desert race with a $2 million prize. If the team qualifies, it will race on October 8 in an undisclosed desert location in the Southwest.

The NaviGATOR is unique because of its ability to sense and respond to obstacles and terrain on its own without help from humans. For additional information, visit

http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2005news/robocar.htm.

USF Holds STARS Summer Camp for K-5 Students

Young minds explored fundamental science and engineering concepts at the space-themed STARS summer camp held this June at the University of South Florida (USF).

The Students, Teachers and Resources in the Sciences (STARS) camp is a two-week continuation of a school-year initiative to infuse science and engineering in K-5 curriculum to enhance educational opportunities for students and increase science content knowledge for elementary teachers.

Students participated in a group design project, which incorporates aspects of technology, economics, teamwork and communication and traveled to the Kennedy Space Center and the Museum of Science and Industry.

For additional information, visit

http://usfnews.usf.edu/page.cfm?link=article&aid=977.

Florida Creates New Commission for Space and Aeronautics

In a move to secure Florida’s role as the “Gateway to Space” the state will form the Commission on the Future of Space and Aeronautics in Florida.

 The Commission’s objectives are to examine existing space programs within the state and develop methods for solidifying Florida as the leading state in the space industry. The commission will include individual leaders with considerable experience in the fields of space and industry trends including aerospace, launch, manufacturing, supporting technologies, communications, workforce, defense and finance.

For additional information, visit

http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/eogadmin/showPress.jsp?press_id=5227.

JetBlue Opens Support Campus at Orlando International Airport

The low-fare, low-cost passenger airline, JetBlue, has opened a support campus at the Orlando International Airport, with four Airbus A320 full-flight simulators and one Embraer E190 simulator to train its flight operations, flight attendants, technical operations and customer service crewmembers. A second E190 simulator will be installed in August.

The new facilities include an auditorium, classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, a training pool and enough space for 16 flight simulators.

For additional information, visit

http://www.jetblue.com/learnmore/pressDetail.asp?newsId=324.

Tampa Area Holds Tech Jam 2005 to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs

The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay and Syniverse Technology, will host the Tampa Bay Tech Jam 2005 at Stumps Supper Club, Channelside on Wednesday, August 10, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event will include bands, barbeque and drinks, and a silent auction.

Proceeds will benefit the TBTF Computer-rific Program, which provides computer labs to area Boys & Girls Clubs. The cost for attending is $20 and contributions can be made by donating auction items, becoming a sponsor, or buying bulk tickets for office employees.

For additional information, visit

http://www.tbtf.org/page.cfm?link=event&eid=B4DD5BDD-9123-173FBFF9C6C1544BB0BA.

Florida Organizations Partner to Study Florida Life Sciences Cluster

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Enterprise Florida and Workforce Florida have partnered to conduct a comprehensive study of Florida’s life sciences cluster.

Researchers from the economic think tank The Milken Institute will perform the study, which will evaluate the strengths and resources of current life science clusters, as well as its potential for cluster growth. From the study results, state and local economic develop leaders will identify action items and objectives for growth and development of the industry in the state.

For additional information, visit

http://www.eflorida.com/PressRoom/img/LIFE%20SCIENCES%20STUDY.pdf.

FHTCC Core Team Welcomes Santa Fe Community College

The Florida High Tech Corridor has welcomed Alachua County’s Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) to its Core Team. SFCC offers programs in biotechnology and health sciences that prepare students for immediate job entry upon completion, or an opportunity to continue study at a four-year institution. The new partnership will help to further develop the area job market by retaining and growing high tech industry in Alachua County.

For additional information, visit

http://admin.sfcc.edu/~NEWS/pressnews/2005_06/news/sfefhth.htm.

Florida Tech Works to Produce Oxygen from Moon Dust

Florida Tech, in collaboration with British Titanium, Cambridge University and the Kennedy Space Center, is working on a NASA-funded project to produce oxygen from the moon’s topsoil. As the largest element of rocket fuel is liquid oxygen, the project could allow the moon to become a refueling station for rockets.

The entire budget for the project is $1.8 million with $430,000 allotted to Florida Tech.

For additional information, visit

http://www.fit.edu/newsroom/news/June2005.html#lunaroxygen.

Did You Know?

The Capital Source Committee of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) has developed a free service, VentureLink, to help growth companies gain access to early stage capital by matching entrepreneur’s capital needs with qualified investors.

VentureLink provides executive summaries, business plans, presentations and other materials from the entrepreneur to potential investors registered with the program. The Capital Source Committee consists of local angel investors who host multiple events throughout the year designed to expose investors to entrepreneurs.

Investors and companies may register for this service by logging on to:

http://venturelink.tbtf.org/venturelink/index.cfm.

Corridor People in the News

Professor of optics, physics & ECE and Northrop Grumman Professor of X-ray optics Dr. Martin Richardson was selected by the University of Central Florida Research Council as the University’s Distinguished Researcher for 2005. Dr. Richardson directs a research program which works to study the application of new high power lasers to dense laser plasma studies and X-ray generation.

Dale Bennett has been named president of Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support. Bennett was previously vice president and general manager of Coast Guard Systems at Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors in Virginia. He also served as president of the Integrated Coast Guard Systems joint venture with Northrop Grumman and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Retired Brig. Gen. Ralph Locurcio, Florida Tech professor of engineering and director of the university’s Construction Management Program, received the Society of American Military Engineers Gold Medal for Lifetime achievement in Louisville, Ky. Locurcio was given the award for outstanding leadership and accomplishments supporting the society’s mission, such as serving as chair of the Academy of Fellows and the Industry Affairs Committee, and as commander of the Kuwait Emergency Reconstruction office following the Gulf War.

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:

7th - 12th Graders Dream Builders Summer Camps

Presented by: Florida Tech
Monday – Friday July 11-15 for 7th through 9th-graders
Monday - Friday, July 18-22 for 10th through 12th-graders
Florida Tech Melbourne Campus
For event information, visit
http://civil.fit.edu/summercamp/index.html or contact the Camp
Dream Builders Summer Program at (321) 674-8048 or
kvanoene@fit.edu.

Commercial Real Estate Luncheon Featuring the National
Association of Industrial and Office Properties
The ins and outs of Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive
commercial/industrial property database
Presented by: Enterprise Flagler
Tuesday, July 21 – Location TBA
For event information or to register, contact Nick at Enterprise
Flagler (386) 447-9020 or nick@enterpriseflagler.org.

Subcontracting and Teaming
Presented by: Frank Germonto-PTAC/CBA
Thursday, July, 21 - ATC Entrepreneurial Center, Suite 340,
Daytona Beach
For event information or to register, e-mail
fgermonto@co.volusia.fl.us.

FMMC International Trade Breakfast Meeting
Presented by: Florida Medical Manufacturer’s Consortium, Inc.
and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday, July 26 - Tampa Port Authority Board Room
1101 Channelside Drive - Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.flamedmfg.org

Doing Business with the Federal Government
Presented by: Business Development Center
Wednesday, July 27 – Catalina Marketing, St. Petersburg
For event information and RSVP, visit
http://tbtf.org/page.cfm?link=event&eid=A27AD80E -B0ED-BA36-095847D2F2469507.

Power Networking Reception
Presented by: Advisory Board Council
Wednesday, July 27 – Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center
For event information, visit
http://www.advisoryboardcouncil.org/contact_us.htm or e-mail
Carrie Duvall at carrie.duvall@bus.ucf.edu.

Proposal Writing
Presented by: Frank Germonto-PTAC/CBA
Thursday, August 4 - ATC Entrepreneurial Center, Suite 340,
Daytona Beach
For event information or to register, e-mail
fgermonto@co.volusia.fl.us.

Tampa Bay Tech Jam 2005
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Wednesday, August 10 – Stumps Supper Club, Channelside,
Tampa
For event information, visit
http://www.tbtf.org/page.cfm?link=event &eid=B4DD5BDD-
9123-173F-BFF9C6C1544BB0BA.

Introduction to Federal Government Contracting
Presented by: Frank Germonto-PTAC/CBA
Thursday, August 11 - ATC Entrepreneurial Center, Suite 340,
Daytona Beach
For event information or to register, e-mail
fgermonto@co.volusia.fl.us.

Selling and Marketing to the Federal Government
Presented by: Frank Germonto-PTAC/CBA
Thursday, August 18 - ATC Entrepreneurial Center, Suite 340,
Daytona Beach
For event information or to register, e-mail
fgermonto@co.volusia.fl.us.

FMMC Executive Briefing Breakfast
Presented by: Florida Medical Manufacturer’s Consortium, Inc.
and the University of Florida
Thursday, August 25 - Holiday Inn Select on Ulmerton Road,
Clearwater
For event information, visit http://www.flamedmfg.org
 

National Events
The following calendar item is a national happening in which readers may be interested:

2nd Annual iCoast Technology Show
Thursday, August 18 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
For event information, visit
http://internetcoast.com/index.php?cid=404898
&src=events&srctype=profile&id=1517&category=InternetCoast%
20Events.

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), the University of South Florida (www.usf.edu) and the University of Florida (www.ufl.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/linkslibrary.

Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library

Visit the Florida High Tech Corridor link library (www.floridahightech.com)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.