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Partnership Projects
Two of the primary goals of the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE) are:
In addition, moving research out of the laboratories and into the marketplace has long been a priority and core competency of CREOL and UCF, and the FPCE continues this emphasis.
A key element of the FPCE operating plan is thus the establishment of Partnership Projects. These projects are led by one of the Florida universities, may involve multiple universities, and must have participation by one or more Florida-based companies. The company participation can be via cash funding to the university, donation of equipment, or in-kind match such as use of equipment or time of company technical personnel.
To help accomplish these goals, the FPCE budgeted $3.1M of the initial $10M FPCE funding from the State of Florida to establish Partnership Projects for research in the FPCE application focus areas:
A key element of the FPCE is a program Partnership Projects — joint activities between Florida universities and Florida-based companies. The first round of funding in April of 2004 the FPCE provided $1.82 million in FPCE funds to 22 projects at five universities, involving 19 companies that promised to provide $2.69 million of matching funds, equipment, and/or in-kind support. For the second year of funding, completed in March 2005, we received 24 proposals – 17 continuing from the first year and seven new projects. A total of 17 projects at four universities – 15 continuing and two new – overall received a total of $1.3 million in additional FPCE funds, with the 13 companies involved bringing $2.55 million of additional matching funds to the projects. The total is thus $3.1M of FPCE funds, creating 24 projects, involving 20 companies that brought $5.1M of matching funds, equipment, or in-kind support.
