The ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of March 31st was packed with researchers, innovators, university leaders, legislators, and our community supporters. There was a powerful aura of pride and excitement for the future of innovation.
When attendees toured the 120,000 sq. ft. facility, they were greeted by many of our USF CONNECT companies - both from the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator & the Student Innovation Incubator. The current and prospective companies will use these grounds to further their research and advance innovation in the Tampa Bay region. The invaluable outcome of the exhibit was the opportunity for new and existing USF Connect companies to collaborate and see how their technologies can be symbiotic to each other.
Of the companies to exhibit was Aiden’s Friends, a Student Innovation Incubator company founded by Tracy Brown, who later that evening participated in the TiE Tampa Bay Final Pitch Competition. When Tracy needed to solve the challenges of a hectic morning, she created an AR experience to guide her son through his routine. She was so impressed by the confidence her son displayed and overall improvement in their daily lives as a result, she knew she needed to help other families.
“It is a place for collaboration, it is a place where we can solve problems” - President - Elect Rhea Law
“It is a place for collaboration, it is a place where we can solve problems,” said President-Elect Rhea Law in her welcome address. Aiden’s Friends is just one example of the real-life challenges being solved by our USF CONNECT companies. Each company has a unique story that drives the work that they do. Also in attendance were Sprain-Go, Poly Materials, Paal Transport Corporation, CBio, AccelEQ, Baldr Medical, Tenacious Software, Neuro20, Soilcea, Ketone Technologies, Neugen Labs, SGN Nanopharma Inc, Clyra Medical Technologies, BIA Robotics, SyGlass, and IllumaVision.
“We want our inventors to dream big and this is the new home for those dreams" - Dr. Slyvia Thomas, Interim Vice President of Research & Innovation.
“We want our inventors to dream big and this is the new home for those dreams,” said Dr. Sylvia Thomas, Interim Vice President of Research & Innovation. It was a great day at USF Research Park.