*Photo: Orlando Tech News, Marco Santana

Hello friends, 

On this September 11, 2025, we pause to honor the memory of those lost in 2001 and reflect on the resilience and unity that define our communities.

Central Florida’s innovation economy is generating measurable cross-sector value through strategic infrastructure investments rather than venture capital hype. This week’s data reveals how our 78,000 tech jobs (growing to 80,000+ by year-end) create economic multipliers: Boeing‘s 400 new engineering positions at Embry-Riddle connect directly to Full Sail‘s pioneering Apple Vision Pro spatial computing lab, which serves the same defense simulation expertise that drives L3Harris‘ naval contracts and MAK Technologies‘ $6+ billion in regional aerospace agreements. 

Meanwhile, Duke Energy proposes new data centers supporting AI applications across tourism (34.4 million annual visitors), healthcare (UCF‘s $6.7 billion alumni impact), and autonomous manufacturing (HOLON‘s Jacksonville facility working with BEEP in Lake Nona), while Florida’s $1.24 trillion wealth transfer creates local capital formation opportunities. 

The pattern is clear: education pipeline to job creation to infrastructure expansion to capital attraction, a self-reinforcing system that Innovate Orlando is measuring and connecting through the phase 2 of our Tech Connect platform, RFP to be released next month. Unlike traditional tech hubs dependent on venture funding, Central Florida’s innovation economy runs on operational revenue, federal contracts, and enterprise partnerships, the question is if this can be enough to create sustainable growth in the tech sector rather than speculative bubbles. 

Bottom line: Our region’s innovation economy strategy focuses on building measurable infrastructure for connection and growth paired with content marketing to create a magnetic and 

The Infrastructure Report: How Central Florida’s Innovation Economy Actually Works 
This week’s news reveals the measurable connections driving Central Florida’s 78,000 tech jobs. These aren’t isolated headlines, they’re data points showing how talent, capital, and infrastructure create economic value.

🎓 Education Pipeline: Converting Degrees to Jobs

Full Sail University launches the nation’s first Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera lab with 50 Apple Vision Pro devices, training students in spatial computing. These skills serve theme parks (34.4 million annual visitors), defense simulation ($6+ billion regional contracts), and aerospace design.

The talent conversion rate matters with a 500K+ Higher-Education Students within 100 Miles of Orlando. This week we learned 190+ Full Sail graduates contributed to 170+ Emmy-nominated projects while 50% of graduates stay regional. One created an AI-powered music video for Peter Gabriel, demonstrating how creative education now intersects with artificial intelligence applications across healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.

K-12 pipeline development accelerates as Seminole County partners with Space Florida for aerospace curricula, directly feeding Boeing’s 400 new engineering positions at Embry-Riddle. Osceola County launches unprecedented library tech initiatives. UCF‘s Philosophy Department advances AI ethics research that guides responsible innovation across sectors.

• Full Sail’s Spatial Computing Innovation Lab

• Full Sail University Press Release

• 190+ Full Sail Grads Contribute to Emmy Projects

• Full Sail Grad Creates AI Music Video for Peter Gabriel

• UCF Philosophy Faculty Lead AI Ethics Discussions

• Seminole County Schools Partner with Space Florida

• Osceola County Library Tech Initiative

🚀 Aerospace & Defense: $6+ Billion in Annual Contracts

Boeing‘s 400-job Embry-Riddle engineering center leverages simulation expertise that drives L3Harris‘ fiber-optic torpedo guidance systems and MAK Technologies’ VR-Forces platform for UK Ministry of Defence training. This defense-to-commercial transfer creates measurable economic multipliers.

Contract flow demonstrates the ecosystem’s integration: ST Engineering Antycip integrates MAK‘s platform while UCF’s Simulation Institute partners with HTC VIVE on research that serves both military and civilian applications. However, PEO STRI‘s deactivation of its Medical Simulation Office shows how defense priorities shift while core capabilities adapt.

Space economy expansion: SpaceX‘s Starship plans connect to NASA‘s 2026 Lunabotics Challenge and UCF‘s lunar robotics capabilities. MIA AI‘s “Building AI Beyond Earth” presentation at SpaceCom positions local companies for the emerging space AI market. Design Interactive wins NASA NOIS3 contracts, proving small regional firms can compete for federal work.

• Boeing Opens Engineering Center at Embry-Riddle

• Boeing Engineering Center (Yahoo Finance)

• L3Harris Fiber-Optic Torpedo Cable

• MAK VR-Forces UK Defence Program

• ST Engineering Integrates VR-Forces

• UCF and HTC VIVE DEEPSpace Partnership

• SpaceX Starship Florida Launches

• NASA 2026 Lunabotics Challenge

• MIA AI CEO at SpaceCom

• Design Interactive NASA Contract

• PEO STRI Deactivates Medical Simulation Office

💊 Healthcare & Applied Research: Research-to-Revenue Conversion

UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science advances DNA analysis that solves crimes while developing analytical capabilities for pharmaceutical and medical diagnostics. PatientFi‘s healthcare financing partnership addresses national access problems using fintech principles applicable across sectors from tourism payments to aerospace contracts.

The research-to-application pipeline shows measurable cross-sector benefits: forensic science analytical methods improve supply chain optimization (OneRail’s IBM partnership), while AI ethics frameworks developed at UCF guide responsible innovation across healthcare, manufacturing, and defense applications.

• UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science

• PatientFi Partners with Worth

• OneRail Links with IBM

• OneRail’s OmniPoint Transforms Fulfillment

• Laser Photonics Closes Beamer Acquisition

⚡ Infrastructure: Computational and Physical Foundations

Duke Energy‘s data center proposals address AI and cloud computing demand across all regional sectors. HOLON‘s Jacksonville autonomous vehicle manufacturing facility leverages existing simulation and modeling capabilities developed for defense applications, connecting directly to BEEP‘s proven Lake Nona operations where the nation’s largest single-site autonomous shuttle fleet (Move Nona) has operated since 2019, serving 30,000+ riders and demonstrating real-world AV deployment at scale.

Florida Power & Light’s technology-driven storm response innovations protect infrastructure that supports the entire innovation ecosystem. Combined with sustainable energy leadership (Kristy Walson‘s recognition), these create operational reliability essential for tech sector growth.

• Duke Energy Proposes Data Centers for AI

• HOLON Establishes Autonomous Shuttle Manufacturing

• FPL Engineers Revolutionize Storm Response

• Kristy Walson Recognized for Renewable Energy Leadership

💰 Capital Formation: Revenue Over Venture Capital

Florida’s $1.24 trillion wealth transfer creates local capital formation opportunities. The Elway-Tebow backed Orlando investment firm targeting sports and real estate demonstrates how successful operators recognize regional potential based on fundamentals, not hype.

accesso‘s leadership expansion signals tourism technology growth while companies like EA Sports continue operational improvements (College Football 26 updates) that serve both entertainment and business simulation markets.

• Florida’s Multi-Trillion-Dollar Wealth Wave

• Orlando Investment Firm Backed by Elway, Tebow

• accesso Names Mike Evenson Chief Commercial Officer

• EA Sports College Football 26 Update

• Major Gameplay Changes in College Football 26

• EA Sports and NYC FC Extend Partnership

• Blooloop 20th Anniversary in Orlando

🤖 AI Integration: Cross-Sector Application Platform

Orlando-headquartered Kore.ai‘s AI talent shortage analysis matters because our region addresses this through UCF‘s expanded computer science faculty (19 new hires) and ethical AI research. Spatial Synergy‘s appointment of Joseph Nolan as VP for Public Sector demonstrates AI-VR convergence for government applications.

MOTAR’s 3.1.4 release improves enterprise XR accessibility while the UCF-HTC VIVE partnership creates rapid prototyping capabilities serving multiple sectors simultaneously.

• Kore.ai Warns of AI Talent Shortage

• Spatial Synergy Names Joseph Nolan VP

• MOTAR 3.1.4 Release Notes

🔧 Building the Infrastructure

Innovate Orlando is redefining collaboration with dynamic short-form videos, impactful media hits, and a tech conference that powers thought leadership, spotlighting underrepresented innovators to drive year-round inspiration. Our YouTube channel and AI-powered map unite startups, coders, researchers, and artists, sparking deals and breakthroughs that energize our economy. Your sponsorship is the key to bringing this vision to life. Reach out today to learn how you can help fuel innovation!

Here are a few events coming up to keep your eye on: 

9/18: ScaleUp Orlando: A One-Day Conference for Founders, Small Biz Owners & Builders 

✨Get Ready for the Inaugural Innovate Orlando Awards! 
We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming nomination process for the Inaugural Innovate Orlando Awards, celebrating trailblazers who are shaping the future of our region. Stay tuned for details on how to nominate the innovators, startups, and visionaries driving Central Florida’s tech scene forward. Don’t miss your chance to honor those making a difference!