The Innovation Monthly is your source for the latest news and insights on Florida's Innovation Economy.       

May 2009 Highlights:

• America's First Eco-Sustainable City
• State-Of-The-Art R&D and Manufacturing Facility
• FL Company Named Top Social Networking Provider in the U.S.
• Boeing Launches New Florida Jobs

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is a key player in FAA's NextGen initiative -- it is training the next generation of aviation professionals and testing the next generation of aviation technologies. Dr. Christina Frederick-Recaschino, VP of Research, discusses the NextGen efforts underway at ERAU.

Florida’s Palm Bay-Melbourne area is crowned one of the Top 10 High-Tech Centers in the United States.(Bizjournals, May 2009 )

Palm Beach County's growing life sciences cluster has attracted Leinco Technologies, an established developer and manufacturer of life sciences research products including diagnostic and genetically engineered substances. Leinco plans to build an efficient state of the art life sciences R&D and manufacturing facility, a project with an estimated economic impact of more than $64.8 million. (Business Development Board of Palm Beach County)

Florida is at the top of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News' list of U.S. Emerging Biotechnology Cluster hotspots. Biotech industry thought leaders selected Florida as one of only two U.S. states featured among the world's most promising emerging biotech clusters. (Read more)

Ocean energy technologies—designed to tap the power of the ocean’s waves, temperature differences, currents and tides— have emerged as an area of significant R&D. This webinar will feature the CEO of Greentech Media, who will provide an update on the latest ocean power developments and three leading organizations with operations in Florida who will discuss their novel approaches to ocean power R&D. Register now!

New business start-up Plasma-Therm, LLC has selected the City of St. Petersburg, Florida as its home, enhancing Pinellas County’s burgeoning advanced manufacturing industry. The semi-conductor equipment manufacturer secured financing recently for an initial capital investment to purchase the land, building and equipment needed to start operations, and plans to create 70 high-wage jobs in its first year. (Read more)

Gainesville, Florida based Applied Genetic Technologies  (AGTC) has closed on an $11.8 million financing round. AGTC will use the funds to complete the next phase in human trials for its gene therapy treatments for certain types of emphysema and blindness. The financing was led by InterWest Partners; Intersouth Partners and MedImmune Ventures also participated. (Fierce Biotech)