INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH TECH CORRIDOR

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October 2006

USF Tops $300 Million in Research Funding
The University of South Florida (USF) generated $310.2 million in external research funding for the fiscal year of 2005-2006.

With a $22.9 million, or 8 percent increase, in funding from the previous year, USF solidified its ranking as the No. 2 university in the state when it comes to research funds. Forty-eight percent of the funding came from federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, visit: http://www.research.usf.edu/article.asp?id=6467.

UCF Professors to Design Weather Instrument
for 2012 NASA Launch
University of Central Florida (UCF) Professors Richard Eastes and James Harvey recently received a $988,553 NASA grant to design an instrument that will lead to better space weather predictions.

Eastes and Harvey will design an ultraviolet imaging spectrometer for the Global Scale Observations of the Limb and Disc (GOLD) program that will give scientists a better understanding of how space weather affects earth. Pending successful results from the first design, an additional $45 million grant may be available to build and launch their design as part of the 2012 Radiation Belt Storm Probes mission.

For more information, visit: http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=
article&id=0024004105bd60439010c0c76ce2f006c41&mode=news.

UF Researchers Play Role in Discovering Alternative Energy Source
A partnership between researchers from the University of Florida’s (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and 33 worldwide scientific institutions – including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of British Columbia and Belgium’s Ghent University – has developed a map of the black cottonwood tree genome.

The black cottonwood tree is a prime candidate for use in the production of biomass fuel, which could potentially reduce the consumption of less environmentally friendly fuels, such as petroleum. By selecting specific genes, researchers can produce trees with the perfect traits for efficient conversion into biomass fuel. Besides producing cleaner burning and cheaper fuel, the tree will also be able to naturally absorb carbon dioxide.

For more information, visit:
http://news.ufl.edu/2006/09/14/tree-genome.

Florida High Tech Corridor Council to Celebrate 10^th Anniversary
Economic development and education partners from across the Florida High Tech Corridor will come together Dec. 4 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Since 1996, the unique partnership between three world-class research universities: the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida, economic development organizations and community colleges has led to a strategic approach to high tech economic development spanning 23 counties.

SupplyPoint^® Aims to Link SMEs to Large Organizations and Federal Agencies
The FL-MEP in partnership with the FHTCC is promoting niche manufacturing in the area of obsolescence mitigation manufacturing (OMM) – the re-engineering and re-manufacture of obsolete parts. Small to medium-size manufacturers (SMEs) looking to participate in supply chain contract opportunities issued by large-scale manufacture and federal agencies can do so by utilizing SupplyPoint^®, an interactive, Web-accessible database that facilitates the streamlining of information. This information may be used to attract OMM contracts for the SMEs.

SupplyPoint provides information on machine make/model and controller information and quality system used and allows SMEs to describe their capabilities and capacity information.

For more information, visit http://www.mepmsi.org/supplypoint.html.

SBIR Grant Workshop to Offer Grant Preparation Workshop
The UCF Venture Lab will host a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Grant preparation workshop on Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Partnership II building at UCF’s Research Park and will feature prominent proposal-writing experts Gail and Jim Greenwood.

Topics will include a four-step method for preparing SBIR/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I proposals and other useful information for accessing government funds. Additionally, university technology transfer experts will be on hand to provide valuable information to faculty members interested in participating in start-up firms.

For more information, contact Kirstie Chadwick at kchadwick@bus.ucf.edu.

USF College of Medicine Launches USF International Health Now
The USF College of Medicine and the International Affairs Associate Dean’s Office at Tampa General Hospital recently launched International USF Health Now, a biannual publication intended to serve as a resource for international’s USF health faculty, staff, students and affiliates.

For more information, contact:
John T. Sinnott, MD
Associate Dean, International Affairs
Director, Infectious Disease
Co-Director, Signature Program
johnsinnott@gmail.com

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

The 16-month cohort program aims to prepare students for a career in the information technology field by offering prominent faculty and an extensive curriculum of the latest principles, methods, and techniques of both technology and management. Classes for the AACSB internationally accredited program will be conducted two evenings a week.

EDC will host an information session at UCF’s Heathrow Campus on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.bus.ucf.edu/edc/cgi-
bin/site/sitew.cgi?page=/programs/pmis/index.htx.

TBTF Presents the Third Annual Industry Achievement Awards
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) will host the Third annual Industry Achievement Awards Gala on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa.

The annual event recognizes the achievements and contributions of outstanding individuals and companies in the technology industry in the Tampa Bay community. The black tie event is attended annually by approximately 400 professionals.

Award nominees will compete in the following categories:

• Innovation of the Year;
• Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year;
• Technology Professional Leader of the Year;
• Emerging Technology Company of the Year;
• Quantum Leap Technology; and,
• Community Outreach.

For more information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.

Accolades

Russell Allen
Congratulations to newly appointed president of BioFlorida, Russell Allen. Allen has an extensive background in bioscience and is the former president and CEO of BioSouth, a nonprofit organization representing the bioscience industry in the south.

Bill Parsons
Congratulations to University of Central Florida Alumnus Bill Parsons who was recently named director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Currently the deputy director, Parsons will take over as director on Jan. 1.

AuthenTec Inc. and Quadrant Software
Florida Governor Jeb Bush recently honored two Corridor companies with prestigious awards. Melbourne-based AuthenTec Inc. was awarded the 2006 Governor’s Business Diversification Award for Innovation, while Quadrant Software was awarded the 2006 Governor’s Business Diversification Award in the mega-market newcomer category. Sponsored annually by Enterprise Florida, the awards recognize businesses that have made a significant impact in the state.

Jose A. Diaz
Jose A. Diaz, president of Winter Park-based defense contractor DEI Services Corporation, was named Minority Small Business Person of the Year during the 24th National Minority Enterprise Development Week conference held in Washington, D.C.

Abhijit Mahalanobis
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s Signal Imaging and Processing group’s Abhijit Mahalanobis was named the 2006 Minorities in Research Science Scientist of the Year.

Florida Tech Student Earns Ocean Engineering Scholarship
Florida Tech junior Brian Daly has received a $500 scholarship from the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. The award will aid in furthering Daly’s studies in the field of Ocean Engineering.

Fiserv EFT ACCEL/Exchange Network
Awards Orlando Student with $5,000 Grant
Recent William R. Boone High School (Orlando) graduate Brandi George has received a $5,000 grant provided by ACCEL/Exchange Network. ACCEL/Exchange, one of the nation’s premier electronic funds transfer (EFT) networks, is owned and operated by Fiserv EFT.

Did You Know?
Did you know that a partnership between UF and Spain is currently working on creating the world’s largest telescope in the Canary Islands? Completion is expected in 2007.

For more information, visit http://www.ufl.edu/facts.

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

Professional Master’s in Information Systems (PMIS) degree program Information Session
Presented by: Executive Development Center at the University of Central Florida College of Business Administration
Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, 6 p.m.
UCF’s Heathrow Campus, 600 Colonial Center Pkwy, Room 22051, Lake Mary For event information, visit http://www.bus.ucf.edu/edc/cgi-bin/site/sitew.cgi?page=/programs/pmis/index.htx.

Sarasota International Design Summit
Presented by: Fast Company magazine and Ringling School of Art & Design
Monday, Oct. 9 through Wednesday, Oct.11, 2006
The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota,
1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota
For event information, visit http://www.sarasotadesignsummit.com.

SBIR Phase I Grant Preparation Workshop
Presented by: University of Central Florida Venture Lab
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Partnership II Building at UCF Research Park,
3100 Technology Parkway, Orlando
For event information, contact Kirstie Chadwick at kchadwick@bus.ucf.edu.

NBAA 59^th Annual Meeting & Convention
Presented by: National Business Aviation Association Inc. (NBAA)
Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006
Orange County Convention Center,
9800 International Drive, Orlando
For event information, visit http://web.nbaa.org/public/cs/amc/2006.

UCF Orbit Executive Briefing
Information Technology’s Strategic Business Value in Corporate America and the Impact of Business Intelligence
Friday, Oct. 20, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Westin Grand Bohemian, 325 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.orbit.ucf.edu.

2006 TBTF Entrepreneur Boot Camp
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Monday, Oct. 23 through Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006
University of South Florida Research Park,
3802 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.tbtf.org/
page.cfm?link=event&eid=43930CC0-9572-EC49-67FB727BA72DE5FE.

TBTF 2006 Annual Industry Achievement Awards Gala
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, 6 p.m.
Marriott Waterside Hotel, 700 South Florida Ave., Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.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, 2006
University of Florida Conference Center,
1714 SW 34th St., Gainesville
For event information, visit http://bioflorida.com/9/index.html.

4^th Annual Invention to Venture Workshop
Presented by: University of Central Florida Office of Research and Commercialization
Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UCF’s Fairwinds Alumni Center,
4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando
For event information, contact Stacey Schmidt at sschmidt@mail.ucf.edu.

FHTCC 10^th Anniversary Luncheon
Monday, Dec. 4, 2006
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort,
9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando
For event information, contact Courtney Schemeck at cschemeck@thestrategicfirm.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.