The Corridor plays a major role in talent-building for Florida’s innovation economy — expanding points of entry, forging new partnerships, investing in important programs and developing a strong ecosystem with boundless opportunity.

Young innovators are the fueling the region’s talent pipeline. Photo: Synapse 2025.

Meet Some of our Community Partner Programs

• Ignite Outreach: Inspiring Generations of New Inventors Through Engagement. IGNITE is a trailblazing outreach program of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame that teaches K-12 students how to be creative problem solvers, strategic thinkers, and innovators. It is designed to give students the knowledge and tools they need to cultivate an innovation mindset—and build life and career skills. The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is the statewide host for Invention Convention Florida, a chapter of the national Invention Convention program.
• Cyber Florida: The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, also known as Cyber Florida, was created by the State in 2014 to help Florida become a national leader in cybersecurity education, academic and practical research, and community outreach and engagement.
• The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville strengthens the regional tech talent pipeline by sparking curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills early and sustaining them through hands on learning experiences that connect education to real world innovation. Through interactive exhibits, maker programs, camps, and partnerships with schools, startups, and the University of Florida, the museum introduces students and families to STEM concepts, design thinking, and emerging technologies in an accessible, inspiring environment. By celebrating invention and showcasing diverse career pathways in science and technology, the Cade Museum helps cultivate a steady flow of curious learners, skilled thinkers and future innovators who are prepared to contribute to Central Florida’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem.
• Tampa Bay Region-based SharkMakers is a hands‑on workforce and entrepreneurship program in the Tampa Bay region that prepares young people for careers in technology, manufacturing, and the skilled trades by combining maker education with real‑world business experience. Through project‑based learning in areas like robotics, digital fabrication, electronics, woodworking, and product design, participants develop technical skills alongside teamwork, leadership, and problem‑solving abilities. By partnering with local employers, schools, and community organizations, SharkMakers creates clear pathways from learning to earning, helping build a diverse, homegrown talent pool that supports Tampa Bay’s innovation economy and strengthens its future workforce.
• AMRoC Fab Lab in Tampa serves as a collaborative hub for advanced manufacturing, innovation, and workforce development, giving students, entrepreneurs, and industry partners access to professional‑grade tools and hands‑on training. Through equipment such as CNC machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics workstations, the Fab Lab enables rapid prototyping, product development, and skills‑based learning aligned with real industry needs. By partnering with educators, startups, and manufacturers across the region, AMROC Fab Lab helps translate ideas into viable products while developing the technical talent and practical experience essential to strengthening Tampa’s manufacturing and technology ecosystem.
• Spark STEM Fest at the Orlando Science Center is a dynamic annual event that ignites curiosity and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math among students, families, and educators across Central Florida. Featuring hands‑on activities, live demonstrations, interactive challenges, and direct engagement with STEM professionals, the festival exposes participants to real‑world applications of emerging technologies and innovative careers. By bringing together schools, local employers, higher education institutions, and community partners in an inclusive, high‑energy environment, Spark STEM Fest helps inspire the next generation of problem‑solvers while strengthening the region’s STEM awareness, equity, and talent pipeline.

USF Genshaft Honors College undergrads have been building a portal to help their fellow students connect with research opportunities.

Rising Talent: Undergraduate Research at the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida are Cornerstones of Experiential Education

The Florida High Tech Corridor supports undergraduate research at the University of South Florida by investing in industry‑engaged, applied research experiences that connect students directly to real‑world technology challenges. Through programs such as seed funding and matching grants, The Corridor helps faculty and industry partners involve undergraduates in hands‑on research projects that build technical skills, critical thinking, and professional readiness. These experiences expose students to emerging fields, strengthen university‑industry collaboration, and prepare graduates to transition smoothly into high‑tech careers, reinforcing USF’s role as a talent engine for Florida’s innovation economy. Colleges design their own programs, enabling hands‑on research in engineering, computing, health sciences, education, sustainability, and the arts.

One example of how these programs sustain student engagement in these experiential learning programs is the undergraduate research portal designed and built by students at the Judy Genshaft Honors College, which serves as a centralized gateway that connects students with high‑impact research opportunities across disciplines. Through this platform, undergraduates can easily discover Corridor‑funded programs, faculty‑mentored projects, and internships that align with their academic interests and career goals, while faculty and colleges can showcase research opportunities and manage participation. By simplifying access to applied, industry‑relevant research experiences and elevating awareness of available pathways, the portal helps scale undergraduate engagement in research, strengthen career readiness and ensure that Corridor investments translate into meaningful, equitable participation in USF’s innovation and talent pipeline.

Over the past two decades, The Corridor also has been a supporter of undergraduate research at the University of Central Florida by investing in hands‑on, applied research experiences that connect students with faculty mentors, industry partners, and real‑world technology challenges. Through Corridor‑funded initiatives, UCF colleges are able to offer paid undergraduate research opportunities that strengthen technical skills, critical thinking, and career readiness in high‑growth fields such as engineering, simulation and training, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. By making research more accessible earlier in a student’s academic journey and aligning projects with industry needs, UCF has built on its role as a key driver of Central Florida’s high‑tech workforce pipeline.

When possible, The Corridor and university leadership work to bring multiple innovation programs together to enhance students’ experiential learning opportunities. For example, UCF undergraduate students participated in the Duke Energy’s innovation partnership with UCF researchers by engaging in immersive, experiential learning opportunities that blended innovation, entrepreneurship, and real‑world problem solving. Through interdisciplinary teams, students worked closely with faculty mentors and Duke engineering leaders to develop, test and refine technology solutions to complex challenges, gaining hands‑on experience in design thinking, market analysis, prototyping and pitching ideas. The program emphasized collaboration, creativity, and applied learning, allowing undergraduates to translate classroom knowledge into practical outcomes while building professional skills that prepare them for careers in high‑tech, startups and innovation‑driven industries.

Finding Trusted Collaborators in The Corridor Region

A great place to start is engage with the local public school system

Every local school system has CTE (Career and Technical Education) STEM curriculum, resources, and opportunities. Schools are constantly looking for connections to assist these lessons and help grow these programs. Outside support is essential to help students learn valuable lessons, making lasting memories and prepare to succeed. Opportunities include mentoring, showcasing skills, contributing to a competitive team, like robotics, and assisting a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO).