UF nurtures local and statewide economies

July 24, 2009

Dear Members of The Gator Nation:

I am pleased to have the opportunity to share significant news about the University of Florida’s expanding role in nurturing the local and statewide economies.

Last Friday we announced that we won a federal grant to build our second technology incubator in Alachua County (See story below). This comes on the heels of news that UF has become Florida’s only university to win a $26 million National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award aimed at speeding the transformation of research and ideas into new treatments and cures. Both developments will help us expand and broaden our longstanding technology commercialization efforts — efforts that have already led to the creation of at least 100 spinoffs employing well over 1,000 Floridians, many in highly skilled, highly paid positions. Recently UF also broke ground for a new building to be constructed at UF’s Eastside Campus, 2124 N.E. Waldo Rd. The building will expand the university presence in East Gainesville, while also assisting with economic revitalization efforts in that area.

I am proud of the University of Florida’s track record of supporting the diversification of the local and state economies, and the latest developments suggest our role will only expand in coming years. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,

J. Bernard Machen