ANNUAL REPORT

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "ANNUAL REPORT"

Basil Boone
5 years ago
Views:

1 YEAR INREVIEW FLORIDA HIGH TECH CORRIDOR COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT Dear Fellow Floridians: As we finished our 17 th year focused on high tech industry economic and workforce development, looking back at the past 12 months clearly demonstrated that the Florida High Tech Corridor Council initiative has moved well beyond experiment. The evidence is clear that this unique partnership between higher education and economic development partners is a thriving model for success. From incubation to entrepreneurial support to applied research driving commercialization, our highlights are an impressive tribute to a predominantly volunteer army of passionate champions dedicated to growing Florida s economy. A tip of the hat to our invaluable counselors the executives from industry, academia, government and economic development agencies who make up the Council, and the members of our Core Team who work tirelessly meeting weekly and sharing insights that enable us to be responsive to the needs of industry. Last year they gave nearly 6,000 hours of time to our mission and led us to: A comprehensive IT Workforce Gap Analysis Study in Tampa Bay to identify disconnects between industry and education to help improve the talent pipeline. A unique marketing effort while the nation s attention was focused on the Bay region during the Republican National Convention. The Tampa Bay Partnership s Front Row Tampa Bay streaming television coverage allowed us to expose thousands of viewers to the Corridor. A study of the economic impact of the region s Modeling, Simulation and Training sector that reveals more than $5 billion in economic activity is generated by the military commands and more than a thousand companies employing more than 27,000 knowledge workers in what has become the world s epicenter of modeling and simulation. We have also continued to grow our science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs through FHTCC s techpath program where a new stemconnect initiative will facilitate delivery of high-impact teaching resources and guest lecture programs over the Internet. We were honored to have been recognized this year in several ways, including: A 20-page section in Florida Trend devoted to telling the amazing story of growth throughout the Florida High Tech Corridor. The magazine told the story through intriguing articles about our universities, our communities, and the companies and people who are making a difference. The National Business Incubation Association and the U.S. Department of Commerce singled out the incubator networks of our three universities for their outstanding support of emerging businesses. Enterprise Florida provided special recognition to our Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center (FLVEC.com) for the unique support being provided now to those seeking to start, grow or relocate a business. We are particularly proud to have worked to grow that from an initiative begun in Volusia and Flagler counties first across the Corridor s 23 counties and now to all 67 counties in Florida. As well, we can look back on this year in appreciation for increased funding from the Florida Legislature for the University of Florida s participation in our Matching Grants Research Program, an applied research partnership that to date has seen 375 companies partner with faculty and graduate student researchers on 1,250 research projects on our three campuses. With just more than $61 million in state investment, we have monitored more than a billion dollars in downstream impact. Best regards, Randy Berridge, President

Growing High Tech Industry Through a unique partnership with dozens of economic development, workforce, academic and industry partners, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) has supported

A regional economic development initiative of three research universities the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida FHTCC has continued to

The following overview provides details about the initiatives and programs that helped the Council grow high tech industry in 2012-2013.

2 Growing High Tech Industry Through a unique partnership with dozens of economic development, workforce, academic and industry partners, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) has supported the growth of high tech industry throughout the 23-county region for more than 16 years. A regional economic development initiative of three research universities the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida FHTCC has continued to receive national recognition for its efforts to build a region where technology and innovation thrive. The following overview provides details about the initiatives and programs that helped the Council grow high tech industry in Matching Grants Research Program The key focus of FHTCC has been to foster research partnerships between high tech industry leaders and our three Corridor universities. Every year, technology companies bring their commercial challenges to our expert faculty to take advantage of the Council s Matching Grants Research Program (MGRP), which helps leverage the R&D budgets of industry partners. This year, MGRP projects have furthered innovative technologies such as mobile simulation and training innovations for financial services and energy efficiency for electronic devices and LED lighting. During , the program generated 92 projects in partnership with 68 Corridor companies, including 35 companies participating in the MGRP for the first time. The Council invested $3.5 million in the projects, while the participating companies matched that investment with nearly $12 million in cash, in-kind services and equipment. The total value of research conducted through the Matching Grants Research Program therefore neared $15.5 million this year. Since the inception of the program in 1996, the Council has partnered with more than 375 companies on some 1,250 research projects in sectors ranging from Agritechnology to Sustainable Energy. The more than $61 million in funds that have been invested by the Council have been matched by corporate cash and in-kind investments of $165 million, generating an additional $840 million in quantifiable downstream impacts, resulting in a return of $1 billion and total project value of nearly $1.06 billion. The Matching Grants Research Program counts among its successes the opportunity to engage talented student researchers who learn from faculty mentors as they solve real-world challenges. During , approximately 173 student researchers and 57 faculty members from our research universities were engaged in conducting applied research on Corridor projects. That brings the total number of students (2,528) and faculty (302) who have conducted research on a matching grants project since inception more than 17 years ago to 2,830. Workforce Development With just more than $61 million in state investment, we have monitored more than a billion dollars in downstream impact. The Council focuses efforts on workforce development that span the breadth of the talent pipeline, from techpath s focus on K-12 STEM education to other workforce programs that focus on post-secondary education and beyond. techpath continued this year to bring educators and students into technology industry environments giving students up-close and personal insights into the careers florida.high.tech

3 FHTCC ANNUAL they might find across the Corridor and providing teachers new ways to share exciting subjects that will lead their students down the right path. A new FHTCC program called stemconnect helps engage students by bringing expert speakers into the classrooms virtually through Web conferencing. Teachers can request for STEM experts to present on a subject they are studying, providing students with an idea of real-world careers in science, technology, engineering and math. This year, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council continued its support of a series of studies in the Tampa Bay area that address talent gaps in both the Information Technology (IT) and Manufacturing workforce. With partners including the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Tampa Bay Partnership, Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, WorkNet Pinellas, Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and Pinellas County Economic Development, these studies identified disconnects between industry and education where job applicants were not properly equipped for the workforce, and these partners are taking steps to change the talent pipeline. In the next year, FHTCC will partner with other workforce boards in the Corridor region on similar projects to ensure high tech industry has the talent it needs to grow and thrive. Additional workforce development programs supported by FHTCC during include: funding a grant writer that secured a $12 million Department of Labor grant for Startup Quest, an entrepreneurship training program for underemployed and unemployed, degree-holding, professionals; The PRISM Project, a campaign spanning 10 Central Florida K-12 school districts to strengthen achievement in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math); and, the region s FIRST robotics competitions. Entrepreneurial Support Through projects mentioned earlier in this report such as FHTCC s Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center (FLVEC) FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS BY SECTOR Corridor Funds Cash Match In-Kind Match Total Allocated % of Total Invested Aviation & Aerospace $42,816 $76,449 $42,648 $161,913 1% Information Technology $240,108 $368,093 $455,702 $1,063,903 Life Sciences & Medical Technologies $772,225 $1,179,483 $1,817,306 $3,769,014 24% Microelectronics & Nanotechnology $533,692 $668,692 $641,400 $1,843,784 12% Modeling, Simulation & Training $102,945 $156,009 $76,000 $334,954 2% Optics & Photonics $685,043 $983,350 $2,244,138 $3,912,531 25% Sustainable Energy $352,958 $470,933 $293,658 $1,117,549 Other $285,112 $344,279 $298,102 $927,493 6% AMPAC* $539,658 $1,861,016 $- $2,400,674 15% TOTALS $3,554,557 $6,108,304 $5,868,954 $15,531, % 19% Aviation & Aerospace Information Technology Life Sciences & Medical Technologies Microelectronics & Nanotechnology Modeling, Simulation & Training Optics & Photonics Sustainable Energy Other AMPAC 1% 15% 6% 25% 24% 12% 2% *AMPAC: Funded by an early FHTCC industry grant, the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center at the University of Central Florida conducts research in a variety of sectors. 60 florida.high.tech 2013

REPORT NEW A new FHTCC program called stemconnect helps engage students by bringing expert speakers into the classrooms virtually through Web conferencing.

which has now expanded to cover the entire state, the Council recognizes the importance of supporting the region s entrepreneurs and growth companies in order to further its mission and grow high

Over the past year, monthly traffic to FLVEC has climbed to an alltime high of more than 28,000 visitors that were recorded in June 2013, totaling nearly 150,000 for the second half of the fiscal

Out-of-state visitors represented a sizable portion of the total traffic, totaling more than 6,000 visitors in June and a little more than 23 percent of the total traffic for the year.

In April during the National Business Incubation Association Conference, both the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Florida (UF) claimed the top awards for their respective

4 REPORT NEW A new FHTCC program called stemconnect helps engage students by bringing expert speakers into the classrooms virtually through Web conferencing. Teachers can request for STEM experts to present on a subject they are studying, providing students with an idea of real-world careers in science, technology, engineering and math. which has now expanded to cover the entire state, the Council recognizes the importance of supporting the region s entrepreneurs and growth companies in order to further its mission and grow high tech industry. Over the past year, monthly traffic to FLVEC has climbed to an alltime high of more than 28,000 visitors that were recorded in June 2013, totaling nearly 150,000 for the second half of the fiscal year (January-June). Out-of-state visitors represented a sizable portion of the total traffic, totaling more than 6,000 visitors in June and a little more than 23 percent of the total traffic for the year. During , FHTCC also continued its ongoing support of the region s university-based incubators, which have seen enormous growth and client success, as well as international recognition. In April during the National Business Incubation Association Conference, both the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of Florida (UF) claimed the top awards for their respective incubation programs. UCF s Business Incubation Program won the Incubator Network of the Year Award and UF s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator won the Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year Award for overall excellence. Sid Martin also received one of two Dinah Adkins Incubator of the Year Awards in technology. The University of South Florida s Tampa Bay Technology Incubator also garnered praise from the U.S. Commerce Department when it was awarded a $1 million i6 Challenge grant in October 2012 for a partnership with Tampa Bay WaVE to launch an innovation and incubation center in Downtown Tampa. Volunteer Support The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is sustained by the tireless support of volunteers who are committed to advancing high tech industry throughout the region. During the past year, nearly 525 volunteers from numerous partners and participants including economic development organizations, school districts, universities, workforce boards and others contributed more than 5,900 hours in support of the Council. Total Investment in High Tech Economic Development In order to further the missions of partner organizations and ensure that FHTCC funds have the maximum possible impact, the Council regularly matches its partners contributions. During fiscal year , the Council committed nearly $445,000 in funds to 55 programs and initiatives across the Corridor. As a result of the Council s investments, those florida.high.tech

FHTCC ANNUAL REPORT projects generated an additional value of almost $835,000 in funding and support that without the Council s initial investment otherwise may not have been realized.

5 FHTCC ANNUAL REPORT projects generated an additional value of almost $835,000 in funding and support that without the Council s initial investment otherwise may not have been realized. During , the Council invested $7.1 million in economic development, research, workforce development, education and support for the region s evolving technology communities. Add to that the $12 million in research support from our Matching Grants Research Program and $1.3 million in additional value realized through initiatives funded by the Council and this year s direct impact totals more than $20 million. Marketing the Corridor The many projects of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council all work to improve national awareness of the 23-county region as a thriving high tech hub. By sharing these programs through targeted marketing programs, the Corridor has seen an increase in regional and national publicity and recognition. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council s presence on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube allows for direct interaction with business leaders, technologists and economic developers to link to partner websites and in-depth news coverage. High tech news and updates are shared daily with thousands of followers throughout the Corridor and beyond. In the last year, the Corridor s Twitter follower base increased by 33 percent, reaching 1,200 users daily. Interactions on the Facebook page have grown at an equally impressive rate, with 204 new fans. Through the website and social media channels, the Council has placed an emphasis on recognizing and promoting the region s During , the Council invested $7.1 million in economic development, research, workforce development, education and support for the region s evolving technology communities. Faces of Technology, a program that highlights the researchers, technicians and engineers who have helped grow innovation across the Corridor. The past six years have nearly 100 technology pioneers featured in the FHTCC annual magazine, florida.high.tech, with corresponding videos posted to the Council s YouTube channel. In , the Council leveraged its marketing budget to support initiatives of its partners, including a program to capitalize on the Republican National Convention held in Tampa in August Spearheaded by the Tampa Bay Partnership, Front Row Tampa Bay was a four-day, live Web TV broadcast showcasing life, work and economic opportunity in the eight-county Tampa Bay region and across Florida. FHTCC continued to be an active participant in many prominent technology trade shows. University, business and economic development leaders represented the Corridor at I/ITSEC, Photonics West and Bio2013, to name a few. In addition to this annual magazine, florida.high.tech, the Council informs readers of technological advancements being made throughout the Corridor in its monthly enewsletter, Inside Florida s High Tech Corridor. The enewsletter is distributed to more than 4,500 readers each month and includes regular features on the Corridor s 10 high tech sectors, spotlights on Council members and other partners, as well as news from technology companies and university partners in the 23-county region. If you would like to be added to the distribution list for Inside Florida s High Tech Corridor, please send an to pressroom@floridahightech.com. 62 florida.high.tech 2013

Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Thomas O Neal Associate Vice President Office of Research and Commercialization University of Central Florida

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Thomas O Neal Associate Vice President Office of Research and Commercialization University of Central Florida About UCF Second largest university in the nation 60,000 students