University Research : Growing High Tech Industries
Since its inception in 1996 , The Corridor ’ s Matching Grants Research Program ( MGRP ) has been called upon to advance innovation and bring new technologies to market across the 23-county area ’ s targeted industries for high tech growth .
The internationally recognized program combines the expertise of researchers at The Corridor ’ s three research universities – the University of Central Florida ( UCF ), the University of South Florida ( USF ) and the University of Florida ( UF ) – with the industrial resources and entrepreneurial energies of the region ’ s commercial partners . To date , an investment of more than $ 65 million from The Corridor has facilitated relationships between Corridor universities and local businesses that have generated a regional economic impact of more than $ 1 billion .
MGRP investments are also responsible for sparking profound intangible impacts , cultivating The Corridor ’ s signature spirit of partnership and empowering participants as agents of change . Working together , MGRP faculty , student and industry researchers are emboldened to share knowledge across industry lines and pioneer solutions to tackle global issues . Their research furthers the development of a treatment for debilitating chronic pain , a microsatellite for real-time observations of any location on Earth , an advanced fiber optic communications infrastructure and more .
The following pages offer a glimpse of the talented scientists at UCF , USF and UF , and their commercial partners , as well as the innovations resulting from their MGRP projects . This is merely a sampling of the inspiring collaborations that are putting The Corridor region on the map as a leading high tech hub . florida . HIGH . TECH 2017 19