By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
The University of South Florida and the Florida High Tech Corridor are joining the ARK Innovation Center, creating a new avenue for startups and entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate with the university's research and innovation expertise as well as its talent pipeline.
Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center
In collaboration with the Florida High Tech Corridor, USF's Institute of Applied Engineering will establish a presence at the state-of-the-art ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, which serves as a launchpad for early-stage companies focused on disruptive technologies such as machine learning, energy, fintech, artificial intelligence and blockchain.
"Our partnership with USF's Institute of Applied Engineering and the Florida High Tech Corridor brings world-class research and applied innovation directly into the ARK Innovation Center," said Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an incubator based at the ARK Innovation Center. "Together, we're creating a living lab where academia, industry and entrepreneurs collaborate to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. We are thrilled about this partnership."
(L-R) Sierra Perez, Florida High Tech Corridor; Becca Brown, Tampa Bay Innovation Center; Taylor Johnston, USF Institute of Applied Engineering; Elizabeth Nelson, Florida High Tech Corridor [Photo courtesy of Vickie Chachere)
Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor
The initiative will create opportunities for startups located at the center to participate in events, programming and services hosted by USF and the Corridor, along with concierge services connecting entrepreneurs with USF faculty, research centers and departments, including USF Technology Transfer, which manages the university's intellectual property portfolio. Companies will also have opportunities to establish student internships with USF, as well as research and development partnerships through the Corridor's Matching Grants Research Program.
"Partnering with the ARK Innovation Center aligns with the Corridor's mission to advance innovation across our 23-county region," said Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor. "This unique center, in the heart of one of Florida's most dynamic innovation hubs, is a launchpad for collaboration between inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders who are coming together to solve problems and shape the future."
The location also brings the Institute of Applied Engineering - which focuses on specialty projects for national security and dual-use technologies for government and civilian contractors - closer to a rapidly expanding maritime and defense hub. St. Petersburg is home to a thriving cluster of private companies, government entities and academic institutions addressing maritime and national security needs.
"Our collaboration with the ARK Innovation Center is about accelerating defense innovation from concept to capability," said Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering. "By linking the Institute of Applied Engineering's applied research and prototyping expertise with ARK's entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem, we're strengthening the pathway for dual-use solutions that serve both national security and commercial markets. This partnership reflects Tampa Bay's growing role as a hub for mission-driven innovation."
Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering
The ARK Innovation Center, which opened in early 2024, was launched through a partnership between ARK Invest - the global asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood - with its focus on backing the technologies driving disruptive innovation. She joined the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, Pinellas County, the city of St. Petersburg and federal partners in the mission to accelerate growth of early-stage tech and innovation ventures by providing mentorship, collaborative workspace, prototyping labs, coaching and access to capital.
The new partnership also is one of several examples of greater connection and collaboration among the drivers of innovation across the Tampa Bay region. In July, USF was selected to become the first university to join Embarc Collective's new University Partnership Program and in September, it signed a contract with the U.S. Army for up to $85 million to conduct a wide range of research, including cybersecurity, biotechnology and energy sciences.
In St. Petersburg, USF and the Corridor regularly collaborate with the St. Peterburg Innovation District and Tampa Bay Wave, including on The Continuum - a $13.9 million grant from the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program to tackle critical challenges impacting our ocean, coastal communities and economy through the Wave's Blue Tech | X Accelerator.
