Test Your High Tech Knowledge
 The Florida High Tech Corridor Council challenges readers to solve the scientific equation featured on the cover of this year's florida.HIGH.TECH 2008 magazine. Readers who guess the correct solution will be entered into a drawing to win UCF, USF or UF sporting event tickets in the coming year.
Representing a scientific breakthrough in one of the Corridor's 10 industry sectors, the mathematical formula expresses one of four solutions: A) a new energy storage solution; B) the key to a medical breakthrough; C) a solution that will pave the way to an autonomously driven vehicle; and D) answers to questions about nanotechnology.
Take the florida.HIGH.TECH 2008 Great Minds Quiz at http://www.floridahightech.com/quiz.
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USF Earns Grant to Research Hydrogen Storage
A leading nanomaterials company recently awarded a research grant to University of South Florida (USF) professor, Elias Stefanakos, to study hydrogen storage for fuel cell and transportation applications. QuantumSphere selected Stefanakos to explore practical methods to compress and decompress hydrogen for its use as an alternative fuel.
Researching hydrogen storage for more than 12 years, Stefanakos and his team have worked extensively with the U.S. Department of Energy on fuel cell research. This partnership with USF scientists, marks the first year QuantumSphere, a Santa Ana-based company, has awarded a research grant to a team outside of California.
For more information, visit http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=5158.php.
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UF Chemists Use New Tool to Fight Diseases
New research from chemists at the University of Florida may help doctors and scientists diagnose diseases before symptoms appear. Detecting diseases on a molecular level could aid doctors in catching a disease before it evolves or spreads into a more harmful form.
Until recently, doctors have had little success in targeting the "biomarkers" for abnormal and diseased cells that can develop into cancerous growths. Professor Weihong Tan, lead researcher of the study, found a new way to identify DNA strands that seek out and bond to diseased cells, showing the researchers what to look for in a specific disease.
For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2008/03/31/cancer-detector-2/.
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UCF Professor Researches the 'Death Protein'
Annette Khaled, a University of Central Florida (UCF) assistant professor, is conducting research on the 'death protein' (BAX), which could help benefit the search for cures to both heart disease and cancer. Khaled would like to develop a peptide-based therapeutic approach that can stimulate the death of diseased cells or protect cells that help prevent heart disease or cancer. The BAX protein has many functions but one of its main functions is to mediate the death of cells. Khaled has been working with the BAX protein since 2002 and plans to continue to find out more uses for this protein in the future.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article&id=0024004105637014e01192c8f0b0506274&mode=news.
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Since the establishment of NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Florida's east coast nearly 50 years ago, Florida's High Tech Corridor has served as a pioneer in aviation and aerospace. Having drawn companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Eaton Corp., the Corridor's aviation and aerospace sector is constantly on the edge of innovation.
 The Corridor's reputation is attracting more and more high tech companies focused on a new trend in aviation: special light-sport aircraft. Corridor companies making strides in this arena include Merritt Island-based Comp Air Aviation (www.compairinc.com), which manufactures four- to six-seat planes and the kits to build them, and Evektor Aircraft Inc (www.evektor.cz/at/en/index_at_en.htm), a Czech company that is expanding its Melbourne operations to market more of its light-sport planes around the U.S. These aviation companies and others take to the skies above Florida each summer for a demonstration and convention at Lakeland's Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, a showcase of the latest in high tech aircraft and new aviation innovations. One Corridor company will be taking its line of small jets to new heights as the model for the official planes of the Rocket Racing League, a cross between NASCAR and the Blue Angels. The jets from Velocity Aircraft of Sebastian (www.velocityaircraft.com) prove that when it comes to aviation, Florida's High Tech Corridor sets the standard.
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FACES OF TECHNOLOGY
 Flying Detectives: Unmanned Data Collectors
Research at the University of Central Florida's Computer Vision Lab includes a raft of cutting-edge projects – from studies that will improve the way doctors view the body's organs via medical imaging, to detecting humans on video within real-world crowd scenes, to reconstructing antiquities via image-based 3-D techniques.
The common denominator for all of these concepts is Mubarak Shah, Agere Chair Professor and Director of the Computer Vision Lab. Born in Pakistan, where he earned his bachelor's degree in electronics with the highest grades in his college, Shah moved to the United States in 1981 to earn his master's and Ph.D. degrees in computer engineering. On staff at UCF since 1986, he has earned the university's highest honor, the Pegasus Award for most influential professor, and been named to the "Millionaires Club" for bringing in the most licensing fees for the school.
One of his projects is a study that aims to adapt a concept from the animal world to the human one. Shah and a colleague are using a Department of Defense grant to study how to program fleets of unmanned drones – airplanes and helicopters – to collect more useful battlefield intelligence.
For the full story, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/flyingdetectives.pdf.
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TECH BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS
Educators Explore Simulation Industry at techCAMP
Last month, 25 Corridor math and science teachers were introduced to the Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) industry at a one-day techCAMP workshop held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa. Hosted by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, techCAMP is part of the Council's techPATH initiative to promote high tech careers to middle and high school students in the region.
Representatives from the National Center for Simulation, the University of Central Florida Institute for Simulation and Training and the military's STTC/RDECOM were on hand to demonstrate to the teachers from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties the diverse opportunities for careers in the MS&T industry.
As part of the program, the teachers got a behind-the-scenes look at simulation in action: an educational and entertaining exhibit called "Mission Team Quest Verizon Challenge" designed to simulate an astronaut's voyage to Mars while reinforcing skills learned in the classroom. techCAMP also provided the middle and high school teachers with lesson plans to take back to their classrooms to make science education more interesting for their students.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/initiatives/techPath.html.
Entrepreneurs: Representatives from Nine Corridor Companies Selected to Present at Early Stage Venture Capital Conference
Out of the 15 early-seed companies chosen to attend this month's Early Stage Venture Capital Conference, nine companies will represent the Corridor. Each company will have 10 minutes to present their business plan and technology to a panel of venture capitalists, private equity investors, angel investors, investment bankers and entrepreneurs.
Some of the winners include St. Petersburg's AquaVentus with its process to convert air into water; Optima Neuroscience of Gainesville that develops a medical monitor designed to detect seizures; and Orlando-based NeoCytex Biopharma, a developer of therapeutics to repair damaged tissues.
For more information, visit http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?
ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080414005032&newsLang=en.
Showcase Your Company's Hottest Technologies at TBTF's Cool Tech 2008
Join hundreds of tech leaders from around the Tampa Bay area at Cool Tech 2008 on June 12 at the Tampa Convention Center. Presented by the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Cool Tech 2008 is designed to showcase the latest innovations in emerging technology sectors such as Aerospace & Marine Technology, Consumer Technology (wireless, gaming, etc), Biotech & Medical Technology, Nanotech, Robotics, Clean Technology and Information Technology.
 Keynote speaker Russell Romanella will discuss his role as the director of the International Space Station and payload processing directorate at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. 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.
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Accolades
FHTCC's Magazine and Virtual Visit Honored
The Orlando Area Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association honored the Florida High Tech Corridor Council for its innovative annual magazine florida.HIGH.TECH 2008 and virtual Web portal, www.VisitTheCorridor.com, as part of the organization's annual Image Awards gala last month. Each received an Image Award, which is given to the best entry in each division. To order a copy of the award-winning annual magazine that showcases the people and places making everyday scientific innovations across the 23-county region, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/resources/directory.html. To tour the Florida High Tech Corridor without getting on a plane, visit the online welcome center at http://www.VisitTheCorridor.com.
UF Study Reports on 'Pure Air' Technology
According to a recent study conducted by University of Florida's Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, technology from St. Petersburg-based World Energy Solutions Inc. can create a virtually 100 percent sterile environment. Originally a NASA-sponsored research project, the 'Pure Air' technology has been proven to remove 99 percent of biological and chemical contaminants in the air, as well as filtering dust and smoke particles.
Innovation Named to Space Technology Hall of Fame
Developed by NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a device called ResQPod, was one of three technologies recently inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame. Used by emergency medical services to increase cardiac output, ResQPod increases blood flow to the heart and brain until the heart is able to be restarted. This technology is also used by astronauts to help readjust to Earth's gravity.
Governor Appoints Corridor Tech Leaders to State Biotech Panel
Gov. Charlie Crist recently appointed three tech leaders from within the Corridor to a state task force for the Study of Biotech Competitiveness. Valerie McDevitt, director of patents and licensing at the University of South Florida, Geary Havran, president of NDH Medical Inc. of Tampa, and Robert Rohrlack, vice president for business retention and recruiting at Enterprise Florida Inc., joined four others on the state panel.
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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:
The Business-Optimized Data Center
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Wednesday, May 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Centre Club, 123 N. Westshore Blvd., Eighth Floor, Tampa
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?
i=5f76a7f5-9125-4f2d-8553-7eabe2700b79.
Business Showcase 2008
Presented by: Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, May 15, 4 to 7 p.m.
Best Western Gateway Grand, 4200 N.W. 97th Blvd., Gainesville
For event information, visit http://www.gainesvillechamber.com/
Events_-_Issues-Events.aspx.
Driving Transformation: Innovations Fueling Economic Development
Presented by: Florida Economic Development Council
Sunday, May 18 through Tuesday, May 20
Intercontinental Hotel, 4860 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.fedc.net/displaycommon.cfm?an=2.
5th Annual Celebration of Biotechnology
Presented by: Northeast Chapter of BioFlorida
Tuesday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Progress Corporate Park, 13709 Progress Blvd, Alachua
For event information, visit http://www.bioflorida.com/web/module/events/eventid/52/interior.asp.
Special Operations Forces Industry Conference 2008
Presented by: Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Tuesday, May 20 through Thursday, May 22
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.tampachamber.com/files/SOFIC_2008_Schedule_of_Events.pdf.
9th Annual Regional Leadership Conference: In My Lifetime
Presented by: Tampa Bay Partnership
Wednesday, May 21 through Friday, May 23
Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota
For event information, visit http://www.tampabay.org/subpage.asp?navid=7&id=164.
2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference
Presented by: Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
Tuesday, May 27 through Friday, May 30
Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.sbirflorida.org.
Economic Outlook 2008 – Exploring Volatility. Discovering Opportunity.
Presented by: Space Coast EDC
Wednesday, May 28, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
For event information, visit http://www.spacecoastedc.org/Events/EventDetail.aspx?
GUID=7607c8749d69471d8b00147427d17f36.
Cool Tech 2008
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Thursday, June 12
Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin Street, Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.
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CORRIDOR INDUSTRY NEWS
Understanding Speech with Cochlear Implant Improves with Audigence
TRDA
Lee Krause is totally and profoundly deaf, yet he can hear every word you say. It's mostly the result of innovative computer technology he pioneered to improve and customize the way hearing devices such as Cochlear implants and digital hearing aids are tuned for the individual patient.
For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/pdf/audigencestartup.pdf.
Florida's Biotech Hub is Burgeoning
TechJournal South
By Allan Maurer
Driven by state support, the growing presence of major world-class research institutes, and other fuel, Florida rode the fast ramp to become a major player in the biotech arena.
For more information, visit http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=5055.
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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 University of 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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Kerry Gregovich, Inside Florida's High Tech Corridor coordinator
©2008, Florida High Tech Corridor Council Inc. All rights reserved.
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