UCF's Simulation Institute Forms Coalition to Study
Human-Robot Teams
The University of Central Florida's (UCF) Institute for Simulation & Training (IST) recently formed a coalition with several educational and research institutions in the state to develop a combat force of humans and robots for the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory has pledged more than $3.64 million to this project which aims to investigate how robots and soldiers might work together with the purpose of increasing effectiveness in the battlefield.

IST director Randall Shumaker is the principal investigator of this year-long project, partnering with Corridor partners, the University of South Florida and University of Florida, as well as the Institute for Human Machine Cognition, Florida A&M, Florida State University and Florida International University.

UF to Participate in $30 Million Grant to Expand Science's Reach Through Cyberspace
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science recently awarded a $30 million grant to continue research and development of the Open Science Grid Consortium. The University of Florida (UF) will share the grant with 14 other members of the grid consortium. The $425,000 awarded to UF is on top of $3 million that the school recently received from NSF for Open Science Grid research and development.

Operating since 1995, the Open Science Grid harnesses computing resources from 50 sites in the U.S., Asia and South America to process and transfer vast amounts of information gathered from scientific experiments.

USF Chosen for Proposed $80 Million Cancer Vaccine Center
Accentia Biopharmaceuticals Inc. has chosen the University of South Florida (USF) for its proposed $80 million cancer vaccine laboratory. The company is currently lining up funding for the project, including tapping into the $10.5 million USF is seeking to open a Biomolecular Medicine center of excellence.

USF's position as a leading bioresearch hub, its emerging scientific pool and its proximity to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center were important factors in Accentia's decision to pursue a USF site.

Accentia, through its subsidiary BioVest International, is in the process of developing a drug to combat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The treatment is two years away from being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. E. Ann McGee Named Top Community College CEO in the U.S.
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council congratulates Seminole Community College President Dr. E. Ann McGee for being recognized as the top community college CEO for 2006 from among the nation's 1,200 community colleges.

Dr. McGee was presented with the Marie Y. Martin Chief Executive Officer Award during the Association of Community College Trustees Annual Congress, held in Orlando on Oct. 13, 2006.

Each year, the award is given in recognition of the significant contributions made by community college presidents to the publics they serve.

UCF ORBIT – Continuing Education Will Offer Seminars to
M/S Professionals
In an effort to support the Modeling, Simulation & Training (MS&T) sector, which encompasses one of the largest clusters of companies in the Florida High Tech Corridor, UCF ORBIT has put together two professional development seminars designed to tap into key topics concerning M/S Professionals in the region.

In cooperation with the National Training Systems Association (NTSA), UCF ORBIT – Continuing Education will offer the seminars: “Preparation for the Modeling and Simulation Professional Exam” and “Management of Modeling and Simulation Projects” on Friday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, at the Orange County Convention Center.

Special pricing is available if registered by Nov. 13, 2006.

Defense Infrastructure Grant Awarded to Finalize Orlando-based Defense Project
The team formed by the Orange County Research & Development Authority (Central Florida Research Park) and the National Center for Simulation was one of 13 recipients of defense grants awarded by Governor Jeb Bush totaling $4.2 million.

Aiming to improve the state's defense communications, Governor Bush established the Florida Defense Infrastructure Grant Program in 1999. The program provides funds annually to communities hosting military installations on a priority project basis.

With this grant, completion and installation of FEDSUN (federal, state and university network), a high-speed communications network that supports military, other government agencies, academia and industry engaged in modeling, simulation and training, will provide connectivity for all of the properties in Central Florida Research Park.

For more information, visit http://www.simulationinformation.com/
cms/index.php ?option=com_content&task=view&id=400&Itemid=2.

Register Now to Attend the November Health Research Forum in Tampa
Research!America's 2006 Research Partners Forum, “Research: The Risks, the Rewards and the Returns – a Florida Perspective,” will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at The Tampa Club.

The luncheon, co-sponsored by the University of South Florida (USF) and Novartis, will convene leaders from the industry, academia, government and media to increase awareness and understanding of Florida's health research enterprise. Dr. Judy Genshaft, president of USF, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, and B. Jack Sullivan, Jr., president and CEO ofFlorida Research Consortium, are among the speakers.

The event is free of charge, but registration is required due to limited seating.

New Master's Program in Information Technology to Begin In January
UCF's Executive Development Center (EDC) will start a new Professional Master's in Information Systems (PMIS) degree program in January.

PMIS is a 16-month 30-credit-hour degree that focuses on management of information systems and information technology. It is geared to individuals with at least two years of work experience who aspire for successful careers in IT management. Classes for the AACSB internationally accredited program will be conducted at UCF's Heathrow Campus in Lake Mary on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Tampa's Best Nominated for TBTF's 3rd Annual Industry Achievement Awards
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) recently announced the finalists for its 3rd Annual Industry Achievement Awards. The winners will be announced Nov. 9 at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in downtown Tampa.

The awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations in the field of technology within the Tampa Bay region. The event, sponsored by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Akerman Senterfitt, Bowne, Bright House Networks, Insight, Nielsen Media Research, Persystent Technologies, Proggex and Protiviti, will feature Susan D. Whiting, president and CEO of Nielsen Media Research, as keynote speaker.

Matching Grants Research Program Dollars Available for New Technology Development
Every year, dozens of companies across the 23-county span known as the Florida High Tech Corridor participate in a unique program that leverages the strengths of the three Corridor universities – the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida – in the development of commercially applicable emerging technologies. Known as the Matching Grants Research Program, the endeavor was established to foster applied research between the partner universities and their high tech industry partners.

How to Participate
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council Matching Grants Research Program is managed on the three university campuses by a committee of university researchers and Council partners. The committee issues, reviews and approves proposals on a year-round basis. For further information regarding the Matching Grants Research Program please visit http://www.FloridaHighTech.com or contact one of the following:

University of Central Florida – Office of Research
Dr. Tom O'Neal, Associate Vice President for Research
(407) 823-3778
http://www.research.ucf.edu/SponsoredPrograms/
FundingOpportunities/ucf_programs.html

University of South Florida – USF Connect
Dr. Rod Casto
(813) 866-3802
http://www.research.usf.edu/ed/corridor.htm

University of Florida
Erik Sander
(352) 392-6000
http://www.fhtcc.ufl.edu

Accolades

UCF President John Hitt
University of Central Florida President John Hitt was recently honored with the Orlando Business Journal's Most Influential Businessmen Legacy Award. In honoring Hitt, the business publication cited his dedication as a catalyst for growth in research and economic development in the state.

Persystent Technologies
Tampa-based leader in IT management solutions, Persystent Technologies, was recently named as one of 10 companies to watch by Network World magazine.

UCF Research Team
Congratulations to the UCF research team led by university trustee chair and UCF's Northrop Grumman professor of X-Ray optics, Martin Richardson, for successfully developing an effective and cost-efficient power source for the next generation of chip production.

Lockheed Martin's Ocala Facility Honored
Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business unit in Ocala, Fla., was one of five recipients to receive the James S. Cogswell Award for Outstanding Industrial Security awarded by the U.S. Defense Security Service.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
U.S. News & World Report's 2007 “Best Colleges” guide named Embry-Riddle's Aerospace Engineering Program as the top program in the country for the seventh straight year.

Did You Know?
On Sept. 26, 2006, Kennedy Space Center's historic Operations and Checkout Building opened its doors for the first time in more than two decades.

Lockheed Martin will utilize the 40-year-old facility to complete final assembly and testing of the new Orion crew capsule, NASA's next-generation human spacecraft.

Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor's 23-county region or in the surrounding area:

2006 TBTF 3^rd Annual Industry Achievement
Awards Gala
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Thursday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m.
Marriott Waterside Hotel
700 South Florida Ave., Tampa, Fla.
For event information, visit http://tbtf.org.

Doing Business with Local Government
and Other Entities
Presented by: Small Business Development Center at UCF
Monday, Nov. 13 through Tuesday, Nov. 14
Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center
315 East Robinson Street, Suite 100, Orlando, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.sbdcorlando.com.

November Executive Women's Network
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Mise En Place, 442 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Fla.
For event information, visit http://tbtf.org.

9^th Annual BioFlorida Statewide Conference
Co-presented by: BioFlorida and
Florida Marine Biotechnology Summit V
Tuesday, Nov. 14 through Wednesday, Nov. 15
University of Florida Conference Center
1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville, Fla.
For event information, visit http://bioflorida.com/9/index.html.

Tampa Bay Partnership's Annual Meeting &
Community Update
Presented by: Tampa Bay Partnership
Friday, Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Hilton St. Petersburg, Carillon Park, St. Petersburg, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.tampabay.org.

4^th Annual Invention to Venture Workshop
Presented by: University of Central Florida Office of Research and Commercialization
Friday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UCF's Fairwinds Alumni Center
4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, Fla.
For event information, contact Stacey Schmidt at sschmidt@mail.ucf.edu.

Research: The Risks, the Rewards and the Returns –
A Florida Perspective
Presented by: Research!America
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 12:30 to 3 p.m.
The Tampa Club, 101 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.researchamerica.org/
outreach/2006_fl_forum.html.

3^rd Annual Manufacturer's Summit
Presented by: Manufacturer's Association of Florida
Thursday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 1
Orlando Marriott, 1501 International Pkwy, Lake Mary, Fla.

FHTCC 10^th Anniversary Luncheon
Presented by: Florida High Tech Corridor Council
Monday, Dec. 4, 11:30 a.m.
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, Fla.
For event information, contact Courtney Schemeck at cschemeck@thestrategicfirm.com.

2006 Annual Awards Gala and Tech Forum
Presented by: IT Florida
Thursday, Dec. 7 through Friday, Dec. 8
Disney's Contemporary Resort
4600 North World Drive, Lake Buena Vista
For event information, visit http://www.itflorida.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 (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/linkslibrary/economic_dev_org.htm.

Florida High Tech Corridor Link Library
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 http://www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary.

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