"SEEDS" Planted For a Sustainable Future
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Progress Energy Florida, the University of South Florida (USF) Power Center for Utility Explorations and the City of St. Petersburg unveiled a groundbreaking renewable energy system called Sustainable Electrical Energy Delivery System (SEEDS) at the event "A Bright Energy Future" on May 27. SEEDS could become the energy storage system of tomorrow's 'Smart Grid' power system and serve as a model for other cities in the U.S. and around the world.
The SEEDS project, Project Energy and USF are evaluating the tool's ability to store and collect energy generated from renewable sources like solar and determine whether it could be used to store energy generated by power plants during off-peak times. The renewable energy system could bring environmental benefits, diversify energy sources and bring lower costs to consumers.
During the event, Governor Charlie Crist gave the keynote presentation, and FHTCC Co-chair, USF President Judy Genshaft, FHTCC Council member and Progress Energy CEO Jeff Lyash participated in a panel discussion on "The Future of Power on the State of Florida."
For more information, visit http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=671&z=38.
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UCF’s FIEA Grads Inspire AIDS-awareness Game for MTV
A class project for five graduates of University of Central Florida's graduate video game development program, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), inspired an online game for MTV that challenges stigmas and stereotypes of people living with HIV. Taking first place in the music network's "Changing the Course of HIV" gaming challenge, the game, called "Pos or Not," asks visitors to judge whether or not a person is HIV positive or negative based on a photo and personal facts.
All five of the FIEA graduates work in the local digital media industry at n-Space, Electronic Arts Tiburon and 360Ed.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=
00240041a0ca090119b82069a403651&mode=news.
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UF Tests World’s Largest Portable Hurricane Simulator
A hurricane research team from the University of Florida (UF) recently tested the world's largest portable wind simulator, a 25-ton device that is used to simulate hurricane force winds at 120 mph. Lead investigator on the project, Forrest Masters, civil and coastal engineer at the University of Florida's College of Engineering, demonstrated Category 3 hurricane-force winds on a mock section of a house to detect structural weaknesses in design and build.
Costing $500,000, the project took more than eight months to complete. In addition to simulating high force winds, the engines are capable of blasting 5,000 gallons of water through hydraulic-powered fans to simulate wind-driven rain.
For more information, visit http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1543284312.
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Microsoft Grants $500,000 to USF Professor’s Rescue Robot Research
Microsoft recently awarded University of South Florida (USF) computer science and engineering Professor Robin Murphy $500,000 to create a robot that will emotionally calm people in emergency situations. Designed to help detect individuals in dire circumstances, such as those trapped under debris caused by an earthquake, the Survivor Buddy could provide personal communications like pictures, music or audio contact until rescuers arrive.
Murphy serves as the director of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue and USF's Institute for Safety Security Rescue Technology, an industry leader in research and development for homeland security and defense technologies. Murphy and her student researchers at USF will work in conjunction with Stanford Professor Clifford Nass to create the robot.
For more information, visit http://www.csee.usf.edu/~murphy.
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT:
Digital Media/Interactive Entertainment
 It's no surprise that House of Moves, the world's most experienced motion capture service studio, chose the campus of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (http://www.fiea.ucf.edu), the University of Central Florida's (UCF) graduate video gaming school, to open a new state-of-the-art 3,500-square-foot motion capture studio earlier this year. The world-class facility is the latest digital media boon to hit Florida's High Tech Corridor and will bring invaluable educational opportunities to students looking to secure the industry's highest-paying jobs. And thanks to the Corridor's wealth of theme parks, simulation companies, and entertainment and video game production studios, Florida's digital media graduates will have encouraging employment prospects close to home. Metro Orlando's digital media sector features more than 1,200 companies that employ more than 30,000 workers and generate annual estimated revenue of $9 million.
Electronic Arts Tiburon (http://www.tiburon.com/), whose parent company Electronic Arts is the world's largest video game maker, moved to Maitland, Fla., in 1995. The division produces the popular NCAA Football franchise and the Madden NFL series, the highest- selling video game title in North America. Another world-renown media arts school that calls the Corridor home is Full Sail University (http://www.fullsail.com), which attracts students from around the world looking to blend art with film, games, design, animation, music and live events.
The Corridor is also a leader in using digital media to spur educational innovation and learning. University of Florida's (UF) Digital Worlds Institute (http://www.digitalworlds.ufl.edu) partnered with the school's Department of Computer Science and Engineering to design and implement courses for students in the virtual world Second Life. UF is one of the first universities in the country to utilize Second Life's educational potential. No simulation or classroom demonstration is too dangerous, expensive or large-scale to produce in a virtual world; likewise, researchers use the community to conduct social studies.
Florida's High Tech Corridor continues to attract the nation's top businesses and schools; a testament to the Corridor's strengthening digital media industry.
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FACES OF TECHNOLOGY
 One of the best investments in our nation's health care system would be finding more hours in the day for people like Dr. Richard Melker.
The professor of anesthesiology, biomedical engineering and pediatrics in UF's College of Medicine - and former director of emergency services at Shands Hospital and medical liaison for NASA's shuttle program - holds 43 diverse U.S. patents and drives innovation for a biotech company with vast potential. Xhale Diagnostics Inc. is developing a line of breath-based devices that will replace many conventional diagnostic tests, and could decrease the cost of bringing new drugs to market.
One of the company's first planned product lines will non-invasively measure the adherence to medication regimens of patients enrolled in clinical trials. Company researchers are also working to replace consumer blood glucose monitors that currently require diabetics to prick their skin for blood samples. Xhale's monitor would analyze the breath to give quick, accurate and painless readings on glucose levels.
"If all the biology pans out in the next six months, developing the monitor will be pretty much the same technology as the finger monitors currently used by diabetes patients," says Melker. That's possible because Xhale collects fluid from the breath. "When you exhale, your breath is a combination of gas and water," he says. "Think about what collects when you breathe on a pane of glass.
For the full story, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/justbreathe.pdf.
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TECH BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS
Middle School Students Get a Glimpse of High Tech Future Careers
Last month, more than 30 students from SanfordMiddle School explored the laboratories of a major research university and toured a leading military simulation center during a one-day field trip hosted by a Florida High Tech Corridor Council initiative, techPATH's Math & Physics Day. Aimed at showing students the importance of pursuing advanced science classes later in school, the program introduced students to a variety of high tech fields including digital media, medical and military simulation, and microelectronics through experiments and demonstrations from the University of Central Florida and RDECOM, the Army's simulation research and development branch.
Sanford Middle School Aeronautics teacher, Joseph Oliver, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to spark an interest in his students for different aspects of technology. "It is very exciting for the students to be exposed to various fields that they can pursue as careers," said Oliver.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/initiatives/techPath.html.
 Florida Education Scoring High for Research and Student Achievement
The future of Florida's business and industry has never shined brighter due to the state's strong commitment to education research and practice. From kindergarten to college, Florida's students are becoming more prepared to compete effectively on an international level when they join the workforce.
A survey released by Florida State University showed that the Florida Research Consortium, which is comprised of 13 universities across Florida, received $1.6 billion in research grants from federal agencies and other sources in 2007, an $80 million increase from 2006. The increased funds have helped boost productivity; both the number of licenses granted and patents issued for Florida schools increased over the previous year's figure. Consortium President Jack Sullivan believes the resources provided by the Legislature will make Florida a hotbed for technology because Florida's universities remain committed to research and development.
Florida's focus on transitioning postsecondary students into the workforce was recently recognized by the 2008 Quality Counts Report, a national comparison of state education systems. Florida's K-12 student achievement ranks seventh in the nation and 14th for its public education system overall, fueled by Florida students' remarkable academic gains in national test scores over the past year. In addition to rising student achievement, the report reflects Florida's commitment to a strong teaching workforce - ranked fourth in the nation - and the state's world-class standards, which earned an A- rating.
For more information, visit http://www.techtransfer.fsu.edu/aggregate.html or http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/qc/2008/18shr.fl.h27.pdf.
Florida Targets Space Industry for Growth
The State Legislature allocated $16.25 million to spur growth in the space industry in Brevard County and around the state of Florida. The grant is earmarked for investment in infrastructure, job retention, training and research. More than $14 million is targeted to renovate a Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in hopes of luring a commercial space venture.
Additional incentives provide qualified tax refunds to contractors who retain workers and allow legal safe harbor for companies that offer space tourism flights.
For more information, visit http://www.leg.state.fl.us.
Ocala Welcomes High Tech Robotics Institute
Expanding its Pensacola operations to the Corridor, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) recently opened a satellite branch in Ocala. The research organization specializes in artificial intelligence and robotics aiming to extend human capabilities.
IHMC is affiliated with several Florida universities and chose Ocala for its proximity to its academic partners in Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne and Gainesville. After renovations are complete to the former public library building, IHMC plans to hire an initial Ocala staff of at least 10 for the first two years to conduct their research.
For more information, visit http://www.ihmc.us.
Don't Miss the Hottest Event of the Year with the Coolest Technology
Network with hundreds of Central Florida's business and technology leaders at Cool Tech 2008, June 12, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. Presented by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, the event features an interactive showcase of cool tech in the hottest sectors from nanotech to green tech, live text voting for the coolest tech on display and is headlined with a special presentation by Russell Romanella, director of the International Space Station at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Tickets start at $15 for TBTF members and $20 for the general public. Contact Lori Taylor, director of programs at ltaylor@tbtf.org or call (813) 341-8283 to apply for limited exhibit spaces.
For more information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.
State's Most High Tech Industrial Space Concentrated in Metro Orlando
According to a new a new quarterly report published by Cushman & Wakefield Inc., Metro Orlando ranks first in the state for high tech industrial space. The region's booming medical, simulation, laser and digital media sectors contribute to the nearly 1.24 million square feet of space designed for laboratory, biotechnology, research and development, or electronic assembly.
Researchers with Cushman & Wakefield speculate that with nearly 37 percent of the state's 3.4 million square feet of high tech space, Orlando can attract higher wage jobs and a diverse workforce.
For more information, visit http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/jsp/kcLocalReportArchive.jsp?
Country=GLOBAL&Language=EN®ion=US§or=ALL&catId=100004&
city=3400205&_requestid=93830.
Ernst & Young Names 17 Finalists from Corridor for Entrepreneur of the Year
Representing industries as diverse as financial services, life sciences and high tech manufacturing, 17 companies from across Florida's High Tech Corridor were among 27 companies statewide selected as finalists in the Ernst & Young Florida Entrepreneur of the Year Program. Award recipients in each category will be revealed at the awards ceremony in Orlando on June 5.
Some of the finalists include Alachua-based RTI Biologics, which specializes in biological implants for surgeries; Melbourne's Harris Corp., a national leader in defense communication systems; pharmaceutical drug formulator Xcelience of Tampa; and Winter Park-based Highwinds, a distributor of IP technology services.
For more information, visit http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/
US/EGCS_-_EOY_-_Regional_Programs_-_SEA_-_Florida_-_Overview.
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Accolades
FHTCC’s Career Expo Featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education
Career Services Director at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Thomas Tarantelli, boasted about his experience at the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's Career Expo '08 inside The Chronicle of Higher Education. In the article (http://www.floridahightech.com/
pdf/careerservices.pdf) FHTCC President Randy Berridge explained the advantages of high tech companies getting "face time" with influential career center directors, such as Tarantelli. "The expo especially benefited small and mid-size companies and lesser-known colleges, which often lack the budgets to travel or the brands to attract visits," said Berridge.
Florida Governor Passes Innovation Bill
Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently signed Senate Bill 2310 on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) allowing $1.95 billion in investments in Florida technology and growth enterprises. The legislation is part of Governor Crist's commitment to enhance the state's capacity for innovation and economic growth and to create higher paying jobs for Floridians in industries such as aerospace, life sciences and alternative energy solutions.
 UCF Incubator Director Named to National Business Incubation Association’s Board
Dr. Tom O'Neal, associate vice president for Research & Commercialization and director for the Incubation Program at the University of Central Florida, was inducted into the board of directors for the National Business Incubation Association. As a board member, O'Neal will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for the organization. Currently, O'Neal serves as president of the Florida Business Incubation Association.
Florida Tech Professor Awarded $589,000 for Nuclear Contraband Research
Marcus Hohlmann, a Florida Tech associate professor of physics and space sciences, received $589,000 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) to continue his research on using subatomic particles to detect nuclear contraband entering the United States. The grant furthers Holhmann's work, which began in 2007 with a DNDO investment.
Northrop Grumman Signs Research Deal with UCF's CREOL
Northrop Grumman announced a research partnership with the University of Central Florida (UCF) for a five-year term which will provide engineering expertise and financial support to the university's Center for Research and Education in Optics & Lasers (CREOL), and the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence. UCF will develop breakthrough technologies that have military, intelligence and homeland defense applications.
CREOL Faculty and Students Earn International Awards
Recently-appointed dean of the University of Central Florida College of Optics and Photonics Bahaa Saleh received the Distinguished Service Award from The Optical Society. Dr. Zhibing Ge, Ph.D., graduate of Dr. Shin-Tson Wu's research group, was honored with the Otto Lehmann Award for 2008 from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, and the International Liquid Crystal Society presented student Yi-Hsin Lin with the 2008 Glenn H. Brown Prize.
Fast Company Recognizes Orlando as One of the Best Cities in the World for Innovation
As one of only three U.S. cities to be named to the magazine's "12 Fast Cities" list, Orlando was recognized by Fast Company as "a hub for two burgeoning industries: interactive games and biotech." Other cities to watch for innovation and creativity include Beijing, Seattle, Moscow, Barcelona, Kansas City and Abu Dhabi.
FHTCC Intern Joins Curley & Pynn Staff
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council would like to welcome Eric Ambinder, the new intern working on FHTCC's many projects including the monthly eNewsletter, Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor. Eric Ambinder received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 2005 and a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2008. A native Floridian, Eric is a life-long resident of Winter Park.
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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:
Florida Economic Update
Presented by: Orlando Business Journal and GrayRobinson
Friday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport, 9300 Airport Blvd., Orlando
For event information, visit http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/event/4474.
Workforce Central Florida Online Job Fair
Presented by: Workforce Central Florida
Monday, June 9 to Friday, June 13
For event information, visit http://www.WorkforceCentralFlorida.com/jobfair.
Economic Outlook 2008
Presented by: Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
Tuesday, June 10, 8 to 11 a.m.
Orange County Convention Center, Room 414 C-D, West Concourse,
9800 International Dr., Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.orlandoedc.com/EDC%20Events/calendar.shtml?
portalProcess_1=showEvent&user_assignment_id=14015.
Cool Tech 2008
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Thursday, June 12, 3 to 7:30 p.m.
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.
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CORRIDOR INDUSTRY NEWS
Orlando-Tampa Future is about Working, not Building, Together
Orlando Sentinel
By Randy Berridge
Connecting Tampa Bay and Metro Orlando needs to be about partnering on initiatives that take advantage of the great strengths of both areas, not necessarily about creating a built environment that turns the two distinct areas into one giant mega-city.
For full article, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/oralndotampafuture.pdf.
Ready for Take-Off
Florida Today
If the emerging market for smaller business jets takes off as experts believe it could, Embraer's arrival in Melbourne - made possible in part by more than $12 million in proposed incentives - could be quite a bargain.
For full article, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/take-off.pdf.
Tech Company Crafts Simulated Injuries to Train for War
Orlando Sentinel
By Richard Burnett
An Orlando company is crafting the synthetic bloody bullet wounds for Army training centers across the country to help sharpen the skills of medical personnel training for war.
For full article, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/techsimulateinjur.pdf.
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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. 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 Universityof 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/resources/economicDevOrgs.html.
Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library
For a comprehensive list of FHTCC University Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations; Technology Groups and Programs; Workforce Boards and Organizations; Technology Incubators and Venture Capital Organizations; and Industry Organizations, visit the FHTCC link library at http://www.floridahightech.com/resources/linksLibrary.html.
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Eric Ambinder, Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor coordinator
©2008, Florida High Tech Corridor Council Inc. All rights reserved.
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