| Metro
Orlando’s biotechnology and life science sector is developing
a strong presence in the region with more than 150 companies involved
in numerous facets of the industry such as:
Boasting
some of the country’s top universities, hospitals and research centers,
the state of Florida has been recognized as the third best location for
biomedical technology businesses in the U.S.
The sector
in Metro Orlando has benefited from cross applications with the region’s
prominent modeling, simulation and training, photonics and agriculture
industries. From life-sized human patient simulators to laser surgery
to genetic improvement of crops, elements of biotechnology are thread
through multiple trades.
Adding to
the strength of the biotechnology and life science sector is a strong
healthcare system anchored by several nationally-recognized medical facilities,
including:
- Orlando
Regional Medical Center
- Seven-hospital
system; level 1 trauma center serving a 22-county region
- Teaching
hospital with seven residency program.
- Arnold
Palmer Hospital for Children and Women
-
Ranked in the top 5 in the U.S.
- M.
D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
-
Ranked in the top 2 in the U.S.
- Florida
Hospital of Orlando
-
Adventist Health Care’s 37-hospital system, largest non-profit
system
-
Ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News and World Report
-
The number one cardiovascular center in the USA teaching hospital
Biotechnology
businesses have also been able to take advantage of supporting resources
common to these industries, such as:
- Research
facilities
- Educational
programs
- Business
incubators
The focal
point for the region’s extensive technology research projects is
Central Florida Research Park—one of the top 10 parks of its kind
in the world. Located adjacent to the University of Central Florida (UCF),
the facility is a cooperative effort among academia, industry and government
that pursues collaborative research and brings existing technology to
the commercial marketplace.
The UCF Technology
Incubator opened in 1999 and has grown to include 55 emerging technology
companies. The Incubator's mission is simple: A university-driven community
partnership providing early stage technology companies with the tools,
training and infrastructure to create financially stable, high-growth
companies. The Incubator serves the region's technology industry sector
by specializing in leveraging the intellectual capital and resources of
the university and community to give new companies a competitive advantage.
To date the
program has served more than 70 companies, which have been responsible
for creating more than 450 new jobs in the area, generating $150+ million
in revenues and securing $90+ million of investment.
Under consideration
is a second Metro Orlando research park, which would be dedicated to agricultural
science with emphasis on genetic alteration of plant tissue to produce
pharmaceutical products. The park would be a valuable addition to the
Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC)—part of the University
of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences—which
offers research, extension and teaching programs centering on plant development,
production and protection.
Metro Orlando
is positioned in the heart of the state’s Intelligence Triangle,
which:
- Comprises
six top universities
- Combined
enrollment of 180,000
- Graduates
tend to seek employment within the state
- UCF,
one of the country’s leading metropolitan universities, is closest
to the region
- University
of Florida, located in nearby Gainesville, features world-renowned medical
research facilities
- University
of South Florida’s Center of Excellence in Bioengineering and
Life Sciences brings together a cluster of more than 370 regional medical
manufacturing companies
Additional
benefits of Metro Orlando to the biotechnology and life science sector
are:
- An advanced
telecommunications system integral to data transmission
- Comprehensive
transportation, including:
- A
world-class international airport
- Interstate
highways
- Access
to multiple seaports
- “Plug
and play” lab space
- Build-to-suit
options
Combined
with a deep commitment among educational, government and industry
leaders
to strengthen the biotechnology and life science sector in Metro Orlando,
the region offers a wealth of opportunity to both new and existing
companies
in the industry.
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