Innovation Quarterly Spring 2008 Issue

Think Tank

Innovation in Motion

	• For an in-depth analysis of Florida’s economic performance and the national economic context, download the latest issue of the Florida Economic Bulletin
	• To learn more about Florida’s industries, trade, and population centers, check out the most recent issue of the Florida Economy at a Glance

Explore the wealth of resources located in the My eFlorida Intelligence Center.

Featured Podcast:
Listen to the Innovation Spotlight below to hear about the Florida company that developed revolutionary advanced robotic solutions for surgeons.

To listen to more podcasts, or to learn about additional companies and technologies that are thriving in the state, visit the Florida Innovation Center.

Florida’s innovation podcasts are now available via RSS feeds!
To subscribe to Enterprise Florida's RSS feeds, click here.

Did You Know...

Florida is one of the top U.S. Cyberstates, and is home to the 4th largest high-tech workforce in the nation. (Learn more)

Florida is one of the most pro-business states in the United States, ranking 2nd in Pollina Corporate Real Estate’s Top 10 Pro Business States study. (Learn more)

South Florida has been designated a megaregion of the future and a driver of U.S. economic growth. (Learn more)

Florida is home to several of Fortune Magazine’s Most Admired Companies – 12 of which ranked among the top 5 in their respective industry group categories. (Learn more)

Palm Beach County was named a hotbed of tomorrow’s technology, ranking 3rd on Forbes Magazine’s Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities, and noted for becoming a “haven for cutting edge biotech and life-science research.” (Learn more)

Florida On the Move

Life Sciences

Florida is once again among the Top Five Regions for Targeting Biotech Companies in 2008. (Learn more)

The University of Miami's new Human Genomics Institute, anticipated to become an internationally recognized biomedical research center, will train a critical mass of doctoral scientists, and will focus on the transfer of clinical applications into commercial sectors. (Learn more)

Orlando's burgeoning medical community cultivates another groundbreaking partnership as Florida Hospital and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research create the $45 million Florida Hospital-Burnham Clinical Research Institute for diabetes and obesity research. (Learn more)

Florida Hospital's new Global Robotics Institute, led by world leaders in robotic surgery, combines state-of-the-art facilities and cutting edge technology to offer minimally invasive robotic surgeries. (Learn more)

Three of Florida's leaders in medical research, Moffitt Cancer Center, Shands HealthCare, and the University of Florida, come together to develop world-class programs in cancer care, research, and prevention. (Learn more)

Fort Lauderdale-based medical device manufacturer, Home Diagnotics Inc., creates 140 new high-tech jobs in response to soaring international demand for its diabetes testing products. (Learn more)

Homeland Security/Defense

Melbourne-based Harris Corp., already one of Florida’s largest high-tech companies, will recruit over 425 new high-wage workers to keep up with growing defense contracts. (Learn more)

Orlando’s University of Central Florida is awarded a $75 million U.S. Army Simulation and Training Technology Center contract to facilitate state-of-the-art research for the military and simulation communities. (Learn more)

The University of South Florida in Tampa is joining forces with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center to build a national test bed for Safety Security Rescue Technology. (Learn more)

Distribution

Orlando-based Intelligent Global Pooling Systems, operator of the world’s first RFID-tagged all-plastic pallet pool, banks a whopping $75 million in venture capital investment. (Learn more)

Energy

All eyes are on Florida as Kinder Morgan’s Central Florida Pipeline Co. prepares to open the nation’s first ethanol pipeline – if the project is successful, it could lead to a nationwide boom in ethanol pipelines. (Learn more)

Sarasota County and Florida Power and Light team up to build the second-largest solar power facility in the Southeast. (Learn more)

LYNX, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, will be the nation’s first mass-transit agency to produce its own blended bio-diesel fuel. The LYNX blending station will also supply the diesel fleets of other local government agencies. (Learn more)

Aerospace/Aviation

Palm Beach County flies high as United Technology Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft launches the Florida Assembly and Flight Operations center (for final assembly of BLACK HAWK and derivative helicopters), and creates 150 new jobs. (Learn more)

Tampa International Airport attracts more than 400 jobs with the addition of Pemco World Air Services Inc.'s new maintenance, repair, and cargo conversion facility. (Learn more)

Information Technology

Maitland-based Electronic Arts Tiburon Studio is named one of the Top 10 video game development studios in the world. (Learn more)

Melbourne-based LiveTV wins a major contract to provide in-flight entertainment systems for Continental Airlines, and plans to add 100 to 150 new jobs. (Learn more)

Gainesville’s Innovation Zone continues to grow with the addition of Ignition Entertainment’s game development studio and software design facility and 70 high-wage jobs. (Learn more)

Winter Park’s innovative IP services and content distribution provider, Highwinds Network Group Inc., cashes in on $55 million in equity financing. (Learn more)

Headquarters

Cott Corporpation, one of the largest nonalcoholic beverage companies in the world, creates 100 jobs with the opening of its 60,000 sq. ft. environmentally friendly U.S. headquarters in Tampa. (Learn more)

Key Upcoming Events

May 16: Florida Early Stage Venture Capital Conference
Innovative Florida companies join a national audience of venture capitalists, investment bankers, and private equity investors. Seminars and panel discussions will focus on various aspects of the venture capital industry.

June 2-5: MD&M (Medical Design & Manufacturing) East
Visit the Florida delegation (Booth #1837) in New York at the world’s largest event for medical device design and manufacturing.

June 17-20: BIO International Convention
The BIO International Convention is the global event for biotechnology. Visit the Florida Pavilion, (Booth #1911) to hear from Florida's biotech leaders..

June 25-26: 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change
With an emphasis on finding "gold in green," this conference will focus on stimulating economic development in clean technologies as well as "greening" Florida's business community.

July 14-20: Farnborough International Air Show
Taking place in Farnborough, England, this is the premier global showcase for all things aerospace. Be sure to visit us in Hall #3, Stand #B-23.

For additional international and domestic events, click here

Refer a Colleague

Need Location Assistance?

Like what you see in this newsletter? Know someone else who would like it? Click here to send a copy to a colleague.

Enterprise Florida - the official statewide economic development partnership - can help with your site location, expansion or start-up needs. Click the button for assistance.

Quick Links