In a move designed to increase the state’s ability to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council will welcome the University of Florida (UF) as a full partner in the economic development initiative founded in 1996 by the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of South Florida (USF).

“We have enthusiastically accepted this invitation to join our sister universities in a partnership that has enormous potential to diversify Florida’s economic future,” said University of Florida President Dr. J. Bernard Machen. “The work that has been done by UCF and USF is groundbreaking economic development strategy and we see a bright future working together.”

Machen said UF has pledged to invest $2 million annually in the Corridor Council’s matching grant research program that to date has generated more than $128 million in applied research within key industries targeted for growth - aviation & aerospace, information technology, medical technology, microelectronics, modeling, simulation & training, and optics & photonics. More than 75 percent, or nearly $96 million, of these combined funds have been used over the eight year period on more than 500 projects that have engaged 1,000 graduate and doctoral students and research assistants and 300 faculty members in side-by-side research with scientists and engineers from the 215 companies.

“Companies in our region and those that wish to come here will find that this partnership is greatly enhanced by the collaboration of our three institutions,” said UCF President John Hitt. “Our ability to help them develop and commercialize new technologies through matching grant research programs and our work to provide a qualified workforce has taken a big step forward.”

USF President Dr. Judy Genshaft said, “Our research has shown that by inviting the University of Florida to participate there will be a highly positive impact for companies and communities in the region we serve. Our three institutions not only have world-class strengths in their own right, but a unique ability to put faculty, students and research capabilities together in a joint venture of incredible promise to emerging industry.”

“This initiative has already been recognized nationwide and internationally as a powerful collaborative concept and now we boast not two but three of America’s great universities working together for the good of their region,” said Council President Randy Berridge. “Our ability to bring them together with our local economic development partners and the community colleges that serve the region is an unmatched tool.”

This expansion will increase the list of Corridor counties to 23. Joining the list are Alachua and Putnam counties. Existing counties include Brevard, Citrus, De Soto, Flagler, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia.

The Corridor Council has partnered across its counties with 12 local economic development organizations, 12 community colleges, public school systems and numerous high tech companies dedicated to its mission. “Now, we look forward to expanding this partnership to include UF and its network and leveraging the strengths of three universities for the benefit of the entire Florida High Tech Corridor,” says Berridge.