Randy Berridge Recognized by TechJournal South

Local Tech Partnership Leader Earns Repeat Regional Recognition
FHTCC President Randy Berridge Named for Second Straight Year as One of
TechJournal South’s ‘25 Most Influential People in Southeast Tech’

HEATHROW, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2008) – For the second straight year, Orlando’s Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC), has been recognized as one of the most influential people in the technology and entrepreneurial industry in the Southeastern United States, according to TechJournal South’s “25 of the Most Influential People in Southeast Technology Community.”

“This continued recognition illustrates that people across the Southeast recognize and appreciate the tremendous role that Randy Berridge and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council have played in helping to cultivate the growth of technology industry clusters across Florida’s High Tech Corridor,” said Bill McDermott, economic development director for Seminole County and chairman of the Corridor Council’s marketing committee.

Berridge was nominated by venture capitalists, tech organizations and entrepreneurs to become part of the Southeast’s top 25.

Based in Heathrow, Fla., Berridge and the Council have spent the last dozen years working to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce that supports it in the heart of Florida. Since Berridge took the lead of the organization at its formation in 1996, he has helped develop an extremely successful Matching Grants Research Program that connects companies with funding for research as well as the expertise of university faculty and students.

Over the last 12 years, the Council has partnered with more than 300 companies on 924 research projects in sectors ranging from Agritechnology to Sustainable Energy. The nearly $50 million in funds that have been invested by the Council have been matched by corporate cash and in-kind investments of more than $130 million, generating an additional $457 million in quantifiable downstream impacts, resulting in a return of $587 million and a total project value of nearly $635 million.

The entire list of the TechJournal South Top 25 is featured in the current edition of the magazine, which can be downloaded from the publication’s Web site at http://www.techjournalsouth.com/.

About FHTCC

The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF). The mission of FHTCC is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it within the 23-county Corridor.

A partnership involving more than 20 local and regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and 14 community colleges, the Council is co-chaired by the presidents of UCF, USF and UF. The Council includes the presidents of two of the community colleges, the president of Florida Institute of Technology and representatives of high tech industry.

The unique partnership has resulted in a strategic approach to high tech economic development that involves matching funds research, workforce development and a marketing program leveraging governmental, EDO and corporate budgets on a regional rather than local basis.

For more information, visit http://www.floridahightech.com/.

DARPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

DARPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is designed to provide small, high-tech businesses and academic institutions the opportunity to propose radical, innovative, high-risk approaches to address existing and emerging national security threats; thereby supporting DARPA's overall strategy to bridge the gap between fundamental discoveries and the provision of new military capabilities. Visit http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir/solicitations/sbir091/darpa091.htm

Courtesey: ERAU Grant Opportunities Update

Attention FPC Members: Photonics Cluster Survey Closing!

You should recently have received a letter requesting your participationin an important survey effort being undertaken by the Florida Photonics Cluster (FPC).

Your input is very valuable to us, and we hope you will take the time to complete the short survey at http://fpcsurvey.com and to share this email with other Florida photonics, lasers, and optics organizations that you know.Participants will be entered into a drawing to receive an AT&T giftcertificate for an iPhone, a one-year industrial affiliate membership to the UCF CREOL, and a one year membership to the Florida Photonics Cluster association. If you choose, you will also be entered into a statewide directory of photonics companies, researchers and professionals, and will be able to download a free copy of the completed industry cluster report.

The survey can be completed by November 12 at: http://fpcsurvey.com/

Precision Optics Technician Skill Standard Review Invitation

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to you as a representative of an optics and photonics industry cluster to ask for your support in an effort to develop skills standards for Precision Optics Technicians (POTs).

We define Precision Optics Technicians as:

“Specialists in the technical field of optical component fabrication where required surface tolerances are of the order of 1/16th wavelength (38 nanometers) and positional tolerances are 10 wavelengths (6350 nanometers). They work in optical shops for optics manufacturers, and in quality control (incoming inspection) departments for organizations that incorporate precision optics into various systems.”

Based upon preliminary research, there is a strong demand for these highly skilled technicians but scarcely any capability in our nation’s colleges for preparing them.

The National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC) has received a supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation to explore the need and feasibility for a national multi-year project to initiate college programs to educate and train POTs. As part of this study, OP-TEC has developed a draft set of skill standards to help define what workers in this field should know and be able to do on the job.

These draft standards now need to be reviewed by employers who have POTs working for them. To expedite this review OP-TEC has developed on its website a questionnaire type of survey. This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed at www.op-tec.org. Once on the website, click on the “Review POT Skill Standards” link on the top right side of the home page to enter the survey.

We need your assistance in this review effort. If you know employers who have POTs working for them, please forward this e-mail and encourage them to complete the survey before December 1, 2008.

Please direct any questions on these standards to Dan Hull hull@cord.org or John Souders souders@cord.org.

Thank you, in advance, for lending your expertise in developing the standards that will form a foundation for developing education and training programs designed to meet the skilled technician needs of the U.S. optics industry!

"Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course"

The UCF Incubation Program and UCF Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation announce the next offering of the
"Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course"

This dynamic, intense short course explores the realities of planning and starting a company and helps you learn how to successfully develop and launch a business.

aught by experienced entrepreneurs, professional service providers and entrepreneurship faculty from the University of Central Florida, the course will help you clarify your business concept and walk you through the steps of planning and starting a business. The course will introduce you to resources and advisors that provide invaluable support in laying the foundation for a successful company. Below are comments from some of the participants in our last class:

"This course has been extremely helpful and beneficial. I really appreciate how 'the good, the bad and the ugly' were presented and the wealth of resources in Central Florida I learned about."

"We've had an amazing restructuring due to what we learned in class and are experiencing an increase in business."

"The class really helped to crystallize what I was doing, how to do it better and who
I am doing it for. Thanks!"

"I'm better prepared to build a quality team and I'm excited about the marketing ideas
I learned. The course is an outstanding value!"

The course begins Tuesday, January 20, 2009 and concludes Tuesday, February 10, 2009. Classes will be held from 6-9pm at the Disney Entrepreneur Center facility located on 315 E. Robinson Street, Suite 100, Orlando FL., 32801.

The course fee is $400 for the first participant from a company and $200 for each additional participant from the same company.

• Class Schedule
  
  Tuesday, January 20, 2009
  Session 1 - Developing Successful Business Ideas
  Is your business concept an idea or truly an opportunity? Learn how to tell the difference. Learn how to analyze the opportunity to develop an effective business model.
  
  Thursday, January 22, 2009
  Session 2 - Building a Strong Business Team
  The product or service you will offer is important. Even more important is the team you build - management, employees, Board, investors, service providers. Learn how to build the best team possible to drive the success of your new venture.
  
  Tuesday, January 27, 2009
  Session 3 - Proper Legal and Ethical Foundations
  Many decisions are involved in establishing a new venture. Learn what the legal options are. Explore how to establish high standards of business ethics.
  
  Thursday, January 29, 2009
  Session 4 - Marketing Strategies and Effective Sales
  No matter how beneficial your product or service is, if you don't know who the customer is and tell the message in an effective way to get their attention, you won't have sales.
  
  Tuesday, February 3, 2009
  Session 5 - Funding and Financing
  You've analyzed the opportunity and begun to build a team to drive success. You've written a great business plan. How do you secure the financial resources to make it all happen?
  
  Thursday, February 5, 2009
  Session 6 - Entrepreneurial Insights
  A panel of experienced entrepreneurs will share their insights "from the trenches". What have they learned? What would they do differently? What is their advice to you?
  
  Monday, February 9, 2009 and Tuesday, February 10, 2009
  Session 7 - Business Presentations
  You will have the opportunity to make a presentation to a group of experienced entrepreneurs and get feedback about your business, market and financial opportunities
  

Register by January 13, 2009!

ENROLLMENT FOR EACH COURSE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 20 REGISTRATIONS.

Please contact us at (407) 882-2296 or email Melissa Wasserman (mwasserm@mail.ucf.edu). For more information on the UCF Incubation Program visit: www.incubator.ucf.edu

I2V: University of Central Florida 2008

It's Not Too Late to Register for:

I2V: University of Central Florida 2008

Date: Friday, November 14, 2008

Time: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Location: UCF Fairwinds Alumni Center, Orlando, FL

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Dean Monaco, serial entrepreneur & UCF alumnus

Got an idea for a technology venture?

I2V: Central Florida 2008 is a fast-paced day of practical information and networking opportunities that can help take your ideas to commercialization. The workshop will consist of seven critical-to-success sessions led by real-world entrepreneurial speakers, practitioners, and panelists. Session topics include:

* Is Technology Entrepreneurship for You?

* Idea Validation and Opportunity Assessment

* Marketing and Sales for Early-Stage Companies

* Issues in Intellectual Property Licensing* Building the Team

* The Perfect Business Plan, Slide Show, & Elevator Speech

* Finding the Money

Invention to Venture workshops are held in cooperation with the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA).

Who Should Attend

Aspiring technological entrepreneurs, including students, faculty, researchers, and community members; and business and investor community people seeking connections to new technology opportunities.

Fees

• Students $13
• Faculty, Staff, Alumni $30
• All Others $40
  

What You Will Learn

How to take ideas to commercialization and how to make valuable networking connections.Your future business partner or investor may be sitting beside to you!

Sponsors

UCF Alumni Association, Myers & Kaplan Intellectual Property Law, Sweet!

For more information or to register go to: I2V:Central Florida 2008

TRDA: ROADMAP TO SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES

Technological Research and Development Authority Business Innovation Center

ROADMAP TO SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES -- FINAL PRESENTATIONS

November 12, 2008 - 6:00 p.m.

The Fall 2008 class of TRDA emerging companies will present their key strategies for growth and profitability on November 12th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in high-tech business development, you will want to hear the presentations of these talented entrepreneurs!

To RSVP or for more information, 321-872-1050 x107 or email Bonnie O'Regan, Incubator Manager

PRESENTING COMPANIES

• Accuputt International, Inc. - Golf putt training device


• Aerospace Technologies, Inc. - "Priceline" for launch vehicle payloads


• FishBid.com- On-line wholesale seafood auctionKunal Mitra - Optical biopsy for cancer detection


• Moving Target, Inc. - Internet TV program content production


• OEMS, LLC - Manufacturing outsource consulting


• Sigarca, Inc. - Bioenergy and fertilizer products from animal waste


• Syed Murshid - Optical fiber modulation capacity retrofit


• Telemedicine and Telehealth Technologies - Telemedicine system integrator

Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA)
1050 West NASA Boulevard
Melbourne, Florida 32901321-872-1050

Florida Photonics Cluster and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council Research Study: Optics and Photonics in Florida

We are asking your participation in a landmark survey effort.  For the first time, we are documenting the full extent of optics and photonics activity across the entire state of Florida.  Our 1999 research study helped to attract funding for the UCF Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) and photonics technician degree programs, and economic development and marketing support for the photonics industry. Your participation will help the photonics cluster grow even stronger through the next decade.

If you complete the 15 minute survey at the following link, you will be entered into a drawing to receive an iPhone, a one-year industrial affiliate membership to the UCF CREOL, and a one year membership to the Florida Photonics Cluster association.  You will also be entered into a statewide directory of photonics companies, researchers and professionals, and will be able to download a free copy of the completed industry cluster report. 

Complete the survey by November 5 at: http://fpcsurvey.com/

This survey is sponsored jointly by the Florida Photonics Cluster and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council Inc.  Your participation is very important to our efforts, and we will keep your responses confidential.

OSA Action Alert: View Candidate Science and Tech Platforms

This is a friendly reminder from OSA’s Public Policy Team that Election Day in the U.S. is this Tuesday, Nov. 4. OSA has provided a set of resources outlining the Presidential Candidates’ Science and Technology Platforms. Visit http://emessaging.vertexcommunication.com/ct/3649528:1609663920:m:1:39824304:796DAEAF36DE3D27D0EDEE257215341F to learn more.

In addition to the U.S. Presidential elections, several states and districts are holding U.S. House and Senate elections as well. U.S. members can find the location of their polling place by visiting Google Maps’ 2008 Voter Info. To find out what measures will appear on each state’s ballot, visit Project Vote Smart.

If you are interested in tracking election activities in other parts of the world, check out http://emessaging.vertexcommunication.com/ct/3649531:1609663920:m:1:39824304:796DAEAF36DE3D27D0EDEE257215341F.

Sincerely,

OSA Public Policy Team
public-policy@osa.org

P.S. Want to stay up to date on science policy issues happening in the U.S. Congress? Bookmark OSA’s Washington Updates – www.osa.org/WashingtonUpdates.

The Optical Society

2010 Massachusetts Ave.,

N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036

USA+1 202.223.8130

Letter from ASTRA: "10 Points for America's Future"

October 2008

Dear Concerned American:

Please consider signing our "10 Points for America's Future," a virtual petition to our next President, today!

Our community needs to show our new President that we will support the bold moves he must take in order for the U.S. to deal with changing global innovation and competitiveness frameworks. And we should make sure the new Administration takes advantage of the intellectual and policy research needed to help the new team move forward quickly, since the world will not wait for our own domestic political cycles.

As former Undersecretaries for Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce, we believe that the immediate need for increased federal support for scientific R&D investments and the adoption of effective national innovation and competitiveness policies are issues that transcend partisan goals. Our concerns are "about the economy" — we cannot afford stagnation and incoherence in our future policies or we will certainly pay a very steep price as a society.
We actively support the "10 Points for America's Future" petition, attached. It has been developed by numerous scientific, engineering, educational and technology organizations and individuals over the past few years. Its contents are nonpartisan, forward looking, and a represent a fair consensus as to what our nation's top innovation priorities and strategies should be.

We now ask that you, your associates, and any organizations to which you may belong consider signing this unique "virtual" petition. Individuals, companies, executives, universities, teachers, researchers, schools, students, businesses, entrepreneurs, unions, associations, Chambers of Commerce, civic, cultural and fraternal organizations are all welcome to sign on to the petition, which will be delivered in early 2009 to our new President.

Please share this message. Just forward this email to friends and associates. Feel free to direct questions to rboege@comcast.net for more details. We can even prepare a similar "10 Points Petition" for your own organization if you wish. Simply contact rboege@comcast.net for more details.

If you agree with us, please sign this Petition electronically. All you need do is simply "click through" to http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/get.link?linkid=1002121&subscriberid=81037014&campaignid=288115&linkurl=http://www.usinnovation.org/petition/petition.asp. It will receive the information you are being asked to provide.

Whether you choose to disclose your affiliation(s) is a personal matter, although we would like to know your place of residence to demonstrate the truly national — and global — scope of our community.

Thank you for joining us in this important initiative.

Phillip J. Bond

President and CEO

Information Technology

Association of America

Arlington, VA

Former Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology 2001 - 2005

Dr. Mary L. Good

Dean, Donaghey College of

Engineering and Information Technology

University of Arkansas

Little Rock, AR

Former Undersecretary of Commerce

for Technology 1993 - 1996

This Petition Project is a joint effort of ASTRA, The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America, and theInformation Technology Association of America. For more information about ASTRA, see www.aboutastra.org andwww.usinnovation.org for ITAA, see www.itaa.org

© 2008 ASTRA, The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America