 Scripps robotics engineer peter Chase |
The Scripps Research Institute -- with its promise of providing a focus for world-class molecular/biomedical research in Florida -- is the highlight player among the state's research parks even though it has yet to break ground at the site where it's finally found a home.
The pieces for the creation of a Scripps research campus are now in place: The political donnybrook that resulted in moving Scripps' base from its originally proposed site at Mecca Farms to a 30- acre site at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter resulted in a revised agreement with Palm Beach County and a revised plan with the Scripps Florida Funding Corporation. "The price tag for the county has gone up $50 million -- from $137 million to $189 million," says Shannon LaRocque, Scripps program ?manager for Palm Beach County. (The state's contribution is $310 million.) The biggest difference for the county, LaRocque adds, is "that Scripps' contract with the county is now for 15 years rather than 30."
While the FAU site isn't large enough to accommodate the campus Scripps envisioned for Mecca Farms, expansion, Scripps executives say, can take place on the nearby "Briger property" across Donald Ross Road from FAU. Meanwhile, Scripps' 170 employees are working in two buildings on the FAU campus "that will be turned over to FAU when we move to permanent quarters," says Scripps spokesman Keith McKeown. Design work is nearing completion on three main buildings, and permits have been submitted. If all goes well, earth-moving operations will begin in September, and construction could get under way in February.
FLORIDA RESEARCH PARKS
A sampling of some of the work already under way at research parks around the state.
? Central Florida Research Park
Orlando, 1,027 acres
Tenants: U.S. Department of Defense: $2 billion annually in development of military related simulation and training technologies; General Dynamics: Simulation and trainingtechnology; Alcon: Laser technology for eye surgery; and Inviro: Manufactures medical equipment technology.
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? Florida Atlantic Research Park
(Affiliated with Florida Atlantic University)
Boca Raton, 73 acres and Deerfield Beach, 56 acres
Tenants: The Cancer Institute: Medical and cancer research; Geofocus: Development of transportation location technologies; Aero Pharmaceuticals: Asthma, allergy, respiration problems research; Homebanc: Sponsored research for market decision strategies for mortgage companies.
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? Florida gulf coast Technology and Research Park
(Partnership between Florida Gulf Coast University and the Economic Development Council of Lee County)
South lee county, 20 acres (planned)
Tenants: Plans call for relocating FGCU's Small Business Development Center and an emerging biotechnology center; Center for Leadership and Innovation to relocate here.
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? Innovation Park
(Affiliated with Florida State and Florida A&M)
Tallahassee, 208 acres
Tenants: The Center for Advanced Power Systems: Research into advanced power technologies; emphasis on transportation and utility systems for the Navy and other institutions; the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory: Research ranges from quantum mechanics to tissue engineering, cell biology and biochemistry to develop an artificial pancreas; Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research: Developing Leon County's Hazardous Material Response Plan and a method of remediating the toxic effects of dangerous cleansing agents at Cape Canaveral launch pads.
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? Exploration Park at Kennedy Center
(Formerly International Space Research Park)
Kennedy Space Center
320 undeveloped acres
Tenants: None yet, but officials expect to solicit proposals soon from a broad spectrum of companies that want to take part in "a space technology and commercial park" relating to NASA's missions.
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? Progress corporate Park
(Affiliated with the University of Florida)
Alachua, 200 acres
Tenants: Ixion Biotechnology: Develops technologies to address diabetes and kidney stone problems; Nanosystem Research Inc.: Researches and develops medical materials used as implants, wound-dressing and orthopedic applications; Novabone Products: Develops synthetic bone graft materials; Oragenics Inc: Develops genetically altered anti-tooth-decay bacteria and antibiotics.
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? Treasure Coast Education Research and Development Park
Fort Pierce, 1,800 acres
Tenants: U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service and the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory: Conduct citrus pest research; Indian River Research and Education Center: Researches and develops new scientific information on Florida citrus crops; St. Lucie County Extension Service: Provides education.
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? University of South Florida Research Park
Tampa, University of South Florida campus 100 acres
Tenants (in addition to faculty-research): LifeLink Foundation: A non-profit community service organization facilitating the recovery and transplantation of high-quality organs and tissues for transplant therapy; Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation: Supports cancer research, patient care and education at the cancer center; Semiconductor Diagnostics Inc.: Process-monitoring technologies for semiconductor materials.
? First Coast Technology Park
Jacksonville, 200 acres
Tenants: America Online: Call center; ADT: Call center; Auchter Construction Co.: Commercial builder.
Note: The First Coast park did not develop into a research facility as once planned. Current plans call for state funds to be used to purchase the Jacksonville site sometime this year from the First Coast Technology Park for Duval County Research and Development Authority. Proceeds will go to the University of North Florida Foundation.
INCUBATORS
? Sid Martin Biotechnology Development Incubator
Progress Corporate Park in Alachua
40,000 square feet
Tenants: Applied Genetic Technologies Corp.: Gene therapy for treatment of emphysema and diabetic eye disease; Celunol Corp.: Technology for producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass; Nanotherapeutics Inc.: Nano-scale particle technology for making pharmaceutical products more effective.
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? Tampa Bay Technology Incubator
USF's Research Park in Tampa
60,000 square feet
Tenants: DocuVantage: Develops and markets products that improve electronic document and information management system applications; Intezyne Technologies: Develops new polymers to make various drug therapies more effective; Privacy View: Develops encryptions for internet downloads.
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? University of Central Florida Technology Incubator
Central Florida Research Park, UCF campus and downtown Orlando, 70,000 square feet
Tenants: 360 Software: Develops software for defense, aerospace and homeland security industries; Intelliorg: Develops software used in modeling and simulation technologies; Theowang North America: Develops environment-friendly cleaning products for the petrochemical and energy industries.