Florida High Tech Corridor

The entire Florida High Tech Corridor team is sad to say goodbye to our treasured colleague and friend Amanda Allen as she starts a new chapter of her life in Boston. After a decade of dedicated service to The Corridor's mission, Amanda's positive impact on our region is immeasurable. There will many great accomplishments for her ahead, but the impact she's made in her home community is significant and lasting. Best of luck to you, Amanda! ??

Semiconductors, AI and applications of technology to advance Florida was on the news agenda this week, with the Florida Semiconductor Summit in Palm Bay taking centerstage. With more than 325 participants from 160 organizations, the summit's success is a strong indicator about how quickly the state's semiconductor industry is rising as industry and academic researchers come together in the transformative effort. Ryan Bailey, Innovation Director at Groundswell Startups and co-founder and CEO Myelai Inc, shared three detailed and insightful accounts of each day of the summit that leads off our weekly innovation news roundup. Thank you, Ryan, for documenting the days! ?? Florida Semiconductor Summit 2025: Day 1 Insights and Innovations in Aerospace and Defense ?? Florida Semiconductor Summit 2025: Day 2 Insights from the Frontiers of Innovation and Manufacturing ?? Florida Semiconductor Summit 2025: Day 3 Insights on Workforce Development and Ecosystem Building In other headlines ... ?? New tool to assist Florida law enforcement and organizations in combating human trafficking and supporting victims ?? Innovative research on ferrimagnetic materials earns over $2.5M in funding to advance communication technologies ?? Fang receives the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Doctoral Mentoring Award ??Florida researchers could soon live and work underwater thanks to a public-private partnership ?? USF Sarasota-Manatee researchers receive seed funding for human trafficking prevention project ?? In North Tampa's University Area, EPA grant is potential "game changer" ?? University of Florida explores how artificial intelligence can help medical professionals ?? One AI-Based Advancement at a Time, UF Leaders Are Transforming the Sports Industry ?? The University of Florida’s ‘AI Queen’ is using AI technology to help prevent dementia ?? Vertex Rising: Introducing Florida Tech’s New Applied Innovation Hub Stories via University of South Florida, University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, UF Innovate, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, WUSF, 83 Degrees Media, UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, WCJB TV20 News, Florida Institute of Technology and USF St. Petersburg. Links are in the comments. Have a great weekend all! #floridahightech #semiconductors #flsemiconductorsummit #SemiconductorsInnovation #Microelectronics #Innovation #Manufacturing #PowerOfPartnerships #USF #UF #UCF #ecosystembuilding #AI #humantrafficking #dementia #sportsbusiness #physics #energy

The Florida High Tech Corridor Region is bursting with talent that is pushing the boundaries of innovation and shaping the future, but Nirmita Roy, PhD., the new Rising Star Awardee at the Florida Semiconductor Institute's Summit in Palm Bay is a unique standout in her field. She's being celebrated for developing microelectronics that can be woven into fabrics to create wearable monitoring devices. And although she's only recently completed her Ph.D. program at the USF College of Engineering, her project is taking flight. Corridor CEO Paul A. Sohl caught up with her at the summit this week. Read more about her innovation in the story below. #floridahightech #semiconductors #flsemiconductorsummit #SemiconductorsInnovation #Microelectronics #Innovation #Manufacturing #PowerOfPartnerships #USF #USFEngineering #usfworld #electricalengineering #GoBulls

Join The Corridor's FL FAST program lead Jack Henkel and BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting co-owner Jerry Hollister for a Tuesday, March 11 (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.), webinar especially designed for Entrepreneurial Support Organizations to learn new skills in screening clients for SBIR/STTR grants to develop new technologies for market. Click on the link below for all the details and a link to sign up. The Florida High Tech Corridor presents this workshop through our FL FAST Program funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.

Exclusively for Entrepreneurial Support Organizations on March 11, 1-2:30 p.m.: Join the Florida High Tech Corridor and BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting for a webinar focused on helping ESOs understand how to screen and support their clients pursuing federal SBIR/STTR awards. SBIR/STTR programs can provide a source of research and development funding to support an innovative project's potential in the marketplace. The process of securing a SBIR/STTR award is rigorous, but the impact of receiving potentially millions of dollars in non-dilutive funding can propel a business and a new technology forward. Each year, billions of dollars of economic impact are created by technologies funded through the SBIR/STTR awards, including cybersecurity, healthcare and environmental protection In addition to providing an update on the SBIR/STTR programs and eligibility requirements, this session will walk participants through specific questions to ask in screening clients. Participants also will learn about other federal funding mechanisms and eligibility requirements. Attendees will receive a free special assessment tool you can use to assess potential SBIR clients. The program will be hosted by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, nationally recognized for its success in helping emerging companies win SBIR/STTR funding. ?Co-owner Jerry Hollister leads customer development efforts and the team that supports clients applying to leading federal agencies. The Florida High Tech Corridor presents this workshop through our FL FAST Program funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. The Corridor's FL FAST program is led by Senior Cluster Manager Jack Henkel. Register at: https://lnkd.in/ezJpkVxR #floridahightech #floridasmallbusiness #innovation #SBIR #STTR #innovationfunding #ecosystembuilding

A global innovation movement to tackle some of the biggest health challenges is coming to the USF Research Park on April 5-6: the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon is making Tampa one of it's three U.S. stops. The?G?teborg,?Sweden-based Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon is an initiative that unites students, researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and change-makers to tackle five of the world’s most pressing global health challenges. The series spans three continents and six countries, culminating in a grand finale at the Nordic Life Science Days conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, in October 2025. Innovators of all kinds are encouraged to join the event and bring new ideas to address challenges affecting people everywhere. No coding experience required and participants will be able to interact with industry leaders from organizations like AstraZeneca and Microsoft as they explore ideas and new technologies and approaches. Focus areas include: ?? Expanding access to care ?? Cancer control and targeted treatments ?? Healthy aging and chronic disease solutions ??Infection prevention and global health security ?? Smart, safe and sustainable healthcare Learn more about the Sahlgrenska Global Health Hackathon and signup at https://lnkd.in/dpU92GUz. Tampa Bay Economic Development Council USF Research & Innovation USF World USF CONNECT #lifesciences #floridainnovation #floridahightech #usfresearchpark #floridahightech #globalhealth #sahlgrenska #hackathon #healthinnovation

The Florida Semiconductor Institute has now opened at NeoCityFL! The University of Florida institute will serve as a statewide hub for research, development, innovation, and workforce initiatives focused on cutting-edge semiconductor technologies. FSI’s expertise spans emerging materials, chip design, process development, microsystems, heterogeneous integration, advanced packaging, and cybersecurity, making it a pivotal player in advancing the semiconductor industry. It's been incredible to see the emergence of the semiconductor industry in Osceola County building linkages throughout the Florida High Tech Corridor and throughout the state — especially in the short year since the National Science Foundation (NSF) Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine was announced. The Corridor is proud to be a partner in this transformative effort. Read more about this milestone via Osceola County Government at https://lnkd.in/ee9kjVSu. #NSFEngines #NeoCityFL #SemiconductorsInnovation #Microelectronics, #Innovation #Manufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment, #PowerOfPartnerships #BeFirstToWhatsNext #UnbelievablyReal #FloridaHighTech

Friday got here fast! We've got another extensive roundup of innovation headlines from across The Corridor, from new partnerships to research from emerging innovators. Clearly, there's no better place to launch new ideas to create impact. ?? UF’s Florida Semiconductor Institute Lands at NeoCity ?? Operator Solutions, UCF Partner to Advance Aerospace Medical Training and Emergency Response ?? Recipients of UCF’s 2024-25 Seed Funding Program Announced ?? Think Like an Innovator: USF Launches Design Thinking Certification in Partnership with Stonehill ?? University of South Florida: Research Anchor for America’s Innovation Bay ?? UCF Launches Bold Faculty Hiring Initiative to Meet Growing Demand for Engineers, Computer Scientists ?? UCF Researchers Receive $600K Grant to Develop Intelligent Assistive Robotics ?? She Built a Clever Way to Tackle Food Waste and Named It After an American Hero ?? USF Professor Shyam Mohapatra on how AI is changing drug development ?? Think You Can Cheat With AI? A UF Professor Creates Watermarks To Detect AI-Generated Writing ?? UF's AI technology uses less herbicide to kill weeds ?? Tech Tuesday - GatorPitch Miami Spring 2025 ?? From Classroom to Discovery: USF Students Make Waves with Transformative Research ?? Oragenics, Inc. Announces Partnership with BRAINBox Solutions To Revolutionize Concussion Diagnosis and Treatment ?? Nine USF faculty Named Senior Members of National Academy of Inventors ?? University of Florida Announces 2025 National Academy of Inventors Senior Members ?? USF Honors College Signs Agreement with Veterans Affairs Health Care to Create Research Opportunities?for Students ?? Students Present Promising New Research from Beneficial Fish Bacteria to Prescription Drug Abuse at Statewide Conference ?? Lithium Battery Company Invests $4M to Establish Battery Manufacturing Facility in Florida ?? Florida Tech Announces New Vertex Innovation Hub, Executive Director This week's headlines are via Osceola County Government, University of Central Florida, University of Central Florida - Office of Research, Doug Pace, Inc. Magazine, WPEC-TV CBS12 News, University of Florida, UF Innovate, USF Research & Innovation, Sylvia Wilson Thomas, PhD, Oragenics, Inc, National Academy of Inventors, USF Judy Genshaft Honors College, USF St. Petersburg, Plant Services and Florida Institute of Technology. Links are in the comments. Have a great weekend! #floridahightech #floridainnovation #innovation #technology #economicdevelopment #ecosystembuilding #usf #ucf #uf

Big Announcement: University of Central Florida Launches Faculty Hiring Initiative to Meet Growing Demand for Engineers, Computer Scientists The investment announced this week will include hiring up to 36 faculty to expand the region’s economic vitality and bolster Orlando's standing as a nationally-recognized top tech hub. This initiative comes as?UCF College of Engineering & Computer Science celebrates record-breaking enrollment, with over 15,500 students — making it one of the nation’s largest engineering colleges. The initiative means more transformative talent will be drawn to the region, like UCF Assistant Professor Needa Brown, who joined UCF in 2024, was previously an assistant professor of physics at Northeastern University, where she also was a co-founder and program director of the Masters of Science in Nanomedicine?program. Now at UCF, Brown focuses her research on developing nanomaterials that use the body's immune system to combat cancerous tumors and infectious diseases. “I was impressed by UCF’s growing reputation in materials science and engineering, particularly at the intersection of medicine and engineering,” Brown said in a UCF News story announcing the new hiring effort. “The highly collaborative environment, multidisciplinary faculty, excellent core facilities, and connection to the medical sector and industrial sector via the Florida High Tech Corridor made UCF an obvious choice.” We agree. The Florida High Tech Corridor is an excellent place for transformative innovation! Read more about UCF's plans at the link in the comments. #ucf #ucfengineering #goknights #floridahightech #floridainnovation #ecosystembuilding

Yesterday was a milestone day as we joined partners to welcome the University of Florida Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI)’s new satellite office to NeoCityFL in Osceola County! Thank you, Dr. David Arnold, Director of FSI, for sharing your background and the exciting things FSI is doing to strengthen the semiconductor industry! As a statewide hub for research, development, innovation, and workforce initiatives with expertise spanning from emerging materials and chip design to advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, FSI is working closely with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Florida Semiconductor Engine and NeoCity partners to advance the semiconductor innovation ecosystem in Florida and across the nation. Thanks to all who joined us for #CoffeeAndConversation and the ribbon cutting ceremony! #Semiconductor #Innovation #TechHub #OsceolaCounty #UF #UniversityofFlorida #ChipManufacturing #AdvancedTechnology #Technology #FloridaSemiconductorEngine #FLSemiconductorEngine #InnovationEcosystems #Semiconductors #NeoCity #microelectronics #AdvancedPackaging #manufacturing #hub #NSFEngines #CFSIE #BBBRC #innovationengines #regionalinnovation #PowerOfPartnerships #BeFirstToWhatsNext #NeoCity Osceola County Government ECE Florida UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering imec USA University of Central Florida SkyWater Technology NeoCity Academy The Osceola Chamber Plug and Play Semiconductors CareerSource Central Florida Florida High Tech Corridor Donald Fisher Amanda Clavijo Christina Morris, CEcD, FRA-RA Manuela Arrebola Jay Galbraith Gloria LeQuang