Innovation Hub groundbreaking scheduled for Monday

June 9, 2010

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for the Florida Innovation Hub at UF

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. June 14

WHERE: Southwest corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Southwest Seventh Terrace

WHO: Scheduled to attend are U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez; University of Florida President Bernie Machen and other UF officials; and representatives from Shands HealthCare, the city of Gainesville, Gainesville Regional Utilities, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Press availability with Fernandez is scheduled for 4:30-4:45 p.m.

BACKGROUND: Described as a “super incubator,” the 45,000-square-foot facility will contain space for UF startup technology companies as well as related businesses. The building also includes office space for UF’s Office of Technology Licensing and UF Tech Connect, both of which assist with the commercialization of emerging technologies.

Fernandez has called the hub “an example of the kinds of projects we need to encourage to help accelerate commercialization of research.”
Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2011. The project is being funded in part with an $8.2 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration. The university is contributing $5 million to the effort.

CONTACT: Steve Orlando, director UF News Bureau, 352-392-0186, sfo@ufl.edu.