Have a Great Idea But Need Some Research Done? Have you ever had a great idea but don’t have the resources to have it researched and patented? Ever seen a product on the shelves and wondered how it made it to the market? According to a recent article in the Herald Tribune, with the cooperative entities in the Florida High Tech Corridor and businesses our region is producing more patents than the famed North Carolina’s Research Triangle and the Texas University System.
The Florida High Tech Corridor consists of the region from Sarasota County north to Gainesville and east to Daytona and includes the University of South Florida in Tampa and Sarasota, the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Daytona. At a recent Florida Economic Development Conference in Orlando, the three presidents of the universities revealed the fact that the Florida Corridor was out pacing the North Carolina Research Triangle and the Texas System in the number of patents produced.
“Invention based on university technology remains a significant factor in economic development,” said Paul R. Sanberg, USF senior vice president for research, innovation and economic development.
The Match Grants Research Program has supported over 1,350 research projects with more than 360 companies since 1996 totaling a project value of almost $1.18 Billion. Sarasota County companies, including METI, Rivolta, Robrady and Benz Research and Development, have participated in 17 projects through the Corridor’s grants program over the years.
According to Mark Huey, the president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, the county “works to build research partnerships to support business growth, recognizing that innovation is a primary way to foster a more diverse and sustainable economy.”
If your company has ideas it needs to research one of the universities in the Corridor might have an expert to partner with. The costs of the research are split between the company and the research facility. Your idea comes to fruition for a lower cost and the university gets applied research opportunities for its faculty and students.
To learn more about how a university research partnership might benefit your company, please contact Mark Huey, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, at mhuey@edcsarasotacounty.com.