April 15, 2008
By Barb Abney

The University of Central Florida is teaming up with other universities in the state to conduct innovative research and commercialization projects that could receive nearly $90 million in funding.

UCF is involved in six of 10 proposals the Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board has recommended for funding in the state’s Center of Excellence program. And, in a related initiative, the State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grant Program, UCF received five awards, the second-highest total in the state.

“These recommendations demonstrate UCF’s commitments to collaborate with our industry partners and focus on excellence in key areas of research that are compatible with the economic needs of our community and our state,” said M.J. Soileau, UCF’s vice president for Research and Commercialization.

The recommendations must now be approved by the Board of Governors and are also contingent on pending legislation in the Capitol that could conceivably re-allocate a portion of the $87 million originally budgeted for the program.

UCF has been recommended to lead a Center of Excellence in energy-life sciences and co-lead a new center in computer science. Henry Daniell, a professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, is proposing a Center of Excellence for Green Biotechnology that would use chloroplast bioreactors to produce enzymes for use in biofuels. The project, recommended to receive $10 million, also would lead to low-cost vaccines and biopharmaceuticals by growing medications in genetically modified plants.

Mubarak Shah, the Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, is leading the UCF component of a University of South Florida project to develop imaging and sensor capabilities for use in security, health care, environmental modeling and entertainment and to train the workforce that will be needed to support those industries. UCF would receive a portion of $11 million in funding recommended for that center.

Other projects with UCF involvement include the proposed Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion, led by Florida State University, and the Consortium for Integrated Nano-Manufacturing Development, led by the University of Florida. Engineering Professor Jay Kapat is leading the UCF portion of the aeropropulsion project, and James Hickman, founding director of UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, is directing UCF’s part of the nano-manufacturing proposal. Those projects have been recommended for $14.6 million and $20 million respectively. Proposed centers for hurricane damage mitigation and personalized cancer diagnostics also include UCF researchers.

In a new program established by the Florida Legislature to promote the commercialization of university research products to help the state economy, UCF received five of the 24 grants, the second highest total in the state. These projects will also require Board of Governors approval.

UCF’s awards in the State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grant Program included work in the areas of the biofuel cellulosis ethanol; My CaseSpace, a Web tool for medical students; microfluidic chips; simulation training; and extreme ultraviolet lithography.

The grants that were recently awarded are split into three categories. Phase I grants are designed to assist with early market research, independent evaluation, consultation and development of a business model for a university research project that has marketplace potential. Phase II grants are available to help develop a complete business plan for a university research product. Phase III grants will promote the commercialization of university research products for the purpose of enhancing the state’s economy and creating a more vital link between Florida’s venture capitalists and state universities.

UCF received three Phase I grants, one Phase II grant and one Phase III grant.

Other state universities received the following grants:

-- Florida A&M University - one Phase I grant
-- Florida Atlantic University - one Phase III grant.
-- Florida International University - one Phase I grant.
-- Florida State University - one Phase I grant; one Phase II grant, one Phase III grant.
-- University of Florida - six Phase I grants; one Phase II grant, two Phase III grants.
-- University of North Florida - one Phase I grant.
-- University of South Florida - one Phase I grant; one Phase II grant.
-- University of West Florida - one Phase I grant.

“Florida’s lawmakers are making an investment that is important to the economy of this state, an investment that will pay off in many ways for the citizens of Florida,” said Chancellor Mark Rosenberg of the State University System. “Senator Jeremy Ring, who proposed this program, and his colleagues in the Legislature are right to recognize the role Florida’s state universities play in securing a foothold in the knowledge-based economy of the future.”

Recipients of the grants must reach agreements with the Florida Technology, Research and Scholarship Board, and those agreements must be verified by the Board of Governors.

 

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