TAMPA, Fla. (February 1, 2005) – Industry executives, entrepreneurs, university researchers, and investors will convene in Orlando for the 2nd annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference at the Hilton Walt Disney World on May 18th & 19th. The Central Florida Technology Partnership will join the Florida Research Consortium and Tampa Bay Technology Forum in producing this year’s event, and the University of Central Florida will be the host university.

“The Tech Transfer Conference is very important to us because university spin offs have a great track record for success,” said George Gordon, president of Tampa Bay Technology Forum and Chairman and CEO of Enporion. “Not only do more than eighty percent of them operate in the same region as the university they came from, their probability of attracting venture capital funding is forty times greater than traditional start-ups and their survival rate is seven times greater. This makes a compelling argument for economic growth in our region.”

The opening day of the Conference will include the Innovation Florida showcase, featuring promising university spin out companies seeking capital and business partners. On May 19th, eleven of Florida’s top research universities will exhibit and present in breakout sessions technologies available for commercialization and licensing. Sessions will also feature industry leaders and university tech transfer professionals discussing how to work with universities and partner for profit. The Conference schedule was designed to maximize networking opportunities for attendees both on and off site.

"This conference will build on the success of our inaugural event to highlight one of Florida's most important strategic assets, our research universities," said Jack Sullivan Jr., president of the Florida Research Consortium. "This year we’ll explore novel ways of utilizing university research and other assets to assist Florida's commercial sector. We hope to markedly expand the dialogue begun with our industry partners in 2004 and uncover new ways to drive innovation in Florida."

Conference fees are $245 for Florida Research Consortium and Tampa Bay Technology Forum members, $295 for non-members before April 1st. Regular registration fees $295 for members, $345 for non-members from April 2nd through May 11th. University participants and students receive substantially reduced pricing on conference fees. Registration is available online at www.flatechtransfer.org.

A special room rate of $159 per night is available at the Hilton Walt Disney World. To reserve, call (407) 827-4000 and mention code FTT.

“UCF is excited to host this year's Tech Transfer Conference in Orlando,” said Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for research and chief executive officer of the UCF Technology Incubator. “We’re really pleased about the addition of the Innovation Florida showcase to the event this year. Florida's universities play such an important role in the economic development of the state. We’ll introduce attendees to several promising new companies formed around groundbreaking technologies developed in our universities, and encourage them to invest in or partner with them.”

Participating universities include Florida A & M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, Nova Southeastern University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of North Florida, University of South Florida and the University of West Florida.

Announced sponsors for the conference to date include the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Research Florida, Senniger Powers, Akerman Senterfitt; Edwards & Angell, LLP; Creative Recycling Systems; UTEK Corporation; Holland and Knight, LLP; Oracle; and Measured Progress.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Florida Tech Transfer Conference, visit the web site at www.flatechtransfer.org.

About the Conference Producers

The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is a trade association dedicated to growing Tampa Bay's technology businesses and promoting the region as a major center of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, visit www.tbtf.org.

The Florida Research Consortium (FRC) is a not-for-profit strategic partnership between Florida’s universities, the business community and state government. For more information, visit www.floridaresearch.org.

The Central Florida Technology Partnership (CFTP) is a program managed by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission (EDC) in partnership with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC), Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) Office of Research. For more information, visit www.orlandoedc.com.