To learn about Florida innovations from the innovators themselves, visit the new Innovation Center where you can find podcasts, videos and an interactive map showcasing select high tech companies and organizations.
Business Innovation and High Tech Entrepreneurship
Florida offers the right environment for technology businesses that must remain innovative to succeed in the global economy. The state’s new natural resource — talented knowledge workers, its new attractions — state-of-the-art test labs and research centers; and its new crop — ideas, are creating the perfect climate for the future of innovation.
Robust R&D Assets:At Florida’s R&D centers scientists and high tech entrepreneurs have the resources at hand to perform high-quality and high-potential research. Whether they are located at Florida’s research universities and research institutes or at federal and private research facilities, the state’s R&D professionals can work together at state-of-the-art labs around the state or collaborate remotely, over high-speed networks such as the Florida Lambda Rail and LA Grid.
Talented Professionals:Florida is home to nearly 21,000 Science & Engineering (S&E) PhDs, employs almost 305,000 S&E and high tech professionals, and its universities & colleges are graduating many more each year. Moreover, the state is developing the workforce that can help commercialize innovative technologies and products. Targeted education and training programs such as those for lab technicians, aviation & aerospace mechanics and digital media professionals, ensure that high tech entrepreneurs and employers can always find skilled talent in Florida.
Dynamic R&D activity:About $6 billion is spent on R&D in Florida every year, but several underlying trends better illustrate the vitality of R&D activity in the state. For example, NIH and NSF funding in Florida is rising faster than the national average and so are the R&D expenditures of the state’s academic institutions. In addition, the state continues to foster innovation by supporting and expanding the network of research Centers of Excellence, the targeted World-Class Scholars Program and other initiatives that promote R&D activity in Florida.
Successful Technology Transfer and Commercialization:Florida boasts one of the nation’s highest numbers of patents granted. Many of the high tech entrepreneurs who own them rely on the state’s numerous tech transfer offices,incubators and technology & research parks to take their inventions to market. In addition, out-of-state institutions such as SRI International and Burnham Institute, numerous VC firms, and innovative companies such as Merck and Pfizer are taking note and partnering with local firms to capitalize on their large tech transfer potential.
Intellectual Property Protection:In Florida, your unique business innovation ideas are well-protected. Florida became the first state to establish intellectual property law as a legal specialty, making it one of the 22 board-certification areas available in the state. Currently, over 550 legal firms in Florida practice intellectual property law according to the LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell database.
Available Financial Support:The options for financing a young technology business in Florida range from federal R&D funding and SBIR/STTR grants, to venture capital and private equity financing, among other opportunities. Florida is particularly proud of its strong network of home grown seed, angel and VC firms who support many of the up-and-coming technology entrepreneurs in the state.
Business Vitality:From tax exemptions on R&D equipment to the state’s Innovation Incentives Fund, Florida offers the entrepreneurial climate that helps spur the growth of many innovative companies such as those featured in our Innovation Center.