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New facility big boon to marine research
SRI International Selects Tampa Bay for marine technology research and development facility
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 |
ST. PETERSBURG - SRI, a leading independent research and technology development organization, announced Friday that it will construct a new marine technology research facility in St. Petersburg.
According to a press release from the governor's office, the new facility will be called SRI-St. Petersburg and aims to accelerate research and development of technologies related to ocean science, the maritime industry and port security.
SRI's expansion into Florida is a collaborative effort with the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science and its Center for Ocean Technology and is supported by the city of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and the state of Florida.
The announcement was made at the Knight Oceanographic Research Center on the Bayboro Campus of the University of South Florida.
"USF's College of Marine Science and its Center for Ocean Technology grew to attract the attention of one of the best and brightest research organizations," said Stuart L. Rogel, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Partnership.
Rogel said the announcement was a "validation of what we've already known - that the Tampa Bay region has smart people and attracts other bright minds."
Up to 40 members of the Center for Ocean Technology will be employed by the new facility. SRI-St. Petersburg plans to grow to 100 jobs during the next five years, and plans to reach a total of 200 jobs in the next ten years. Operations are expected to begin by the first of the year.
"Ocean science and technology are a growing national priority, and SRI's reputation has been built on providing high-value innovations to our clients. When we decided to broaden our R&D to include marine technology, Florida - and the Tampa Bay area in particular - became the logical choice," said Curtis Carlson, president and CEO of SRI International, which is based in Silicon Valley. "The institutional infrastructure is in place, and the broad-based support we have received already creates momentum and terrific potential for our new operation."
Earlier this year, Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature created the $200 million Innovation Incentive Fund program to stimulate, in part, the attraction of world-class research institutes to the state.
According to the press release, SRI, is a direct beneficiary of the Innovation Fund and will receive $20 million to establish its East Coast hub in St. Petersburg. Contingent upon a formal agreement, the city of St. Petersburg will also provide a site at the Port of St. Petersburg on which to construct its new facilities.
Funding to design and construct the new R&D facility will be provided by the state and Pinellas County, at $5 million each, and St. Petersburg will lease the new facility directly to SRI.
"As one of the fastest growing research universities in the country, USF is pleased to collaborate with SRI to advance our research initiatives further along the development path. This collaboration will have a positive and lasting impact on the university and on our region," said Judy Genshaft, president of University of South Florida and recently elected Chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership.
SRI's initial focus will be on research and development, technology transfer and commercialization of marine science. Over time, it expects to broaden local research collaborations into additional areas, such as biosciences, nanotechnology, energy, the environment and education.
"While SRI-St. Petersburg is already a collaborative effort between multiple organizations and local governments, as it grows and develops, we expect it to generate strategic partnerships with other industry segments. This is exactly the kind of economic engine we need in the Tampa Bay area," said Kenneth Welch, Chairman of the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.
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Article published on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006
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