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12/4/06 – SRI-St.
Petersburg, World’s Newest Marine Technology R&D Facility
Silicon Valley-based SRI International, one of the
world's leading independent research and technology development
organizations, selected St. Petersburg, Florida as the site for a new
marine technology research facility, company officials announced at a press
conference in St. Petersburg with Mayor Rick Baker.
"There's no question that we are thrilled to have a
research organization as prestigious as SRI International join the St. Petersburg community," said Mayor Baker. "Our goal is to support the
development of high-wage jobs and high-value research that will help
further economic development in the region."
"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 Dr. Curtis Carlson,
president and CEO of SRI International. "The institutional
infrastructure is in place, and the broad-based support we have received is
already creating momentum and terrific potential for our new
operation."
SRI International is one of the world's leading
independent research and technology development organizations. Founded as
Stanford Research Institute in 1946, SRI has been meeting the strategic
needs of clients for 60 years. The nonprofit research institute performs
client-sponsored research and development for government agencies,
commercial businesses and private foundations. In addition to conducting
contract R&D, SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic
partnerships and creates spin-off companies.
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 collaboration 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.
"The expansion of SRI's world-class research and
development (R&D) operations into the Tampa Bay-area exemplifies Florida's attractiveness to premier R&D institutes worldwide, and validates the
strength of our marine science and research foundation," said Governor
Jeb Bush. "Not only will the presence of SRI have a tremendous
impact on the continued growth of our bio-sciences base, the arrival of
this renowned marine technology research institution to Florida will
position us at the forefront of the nation's marine exploration and
discovery efforts in ocean science, maritime industry, and port security.
I have been distinctly honored to work with the Florida Legislature
to support SRI's expansion into Florida, and I applaud the outstanding
collaboration of our academic, economic development, and statewide leaders
to successfully bring this visionary project from idea to reality."
The new facility will be jump-started by transitioning
up to 40 staff members from the Center for Ocean Technology. SRI-St.
Petersburg plans to grow to 100 jobs over the next five years, bringing as
much as $172 million to the local economy, and anticipates reaching a total
of 200 jobs in the next 10 years. Operations are expected to begin by the
first of the year.
"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 Dr. Judy Genshaft, president of University of
South Florida.
Earlier this year, Governor Bush created a special
incentive program to stimulate innovation, economic diversity, and to
attract opportunities and organizations to the State of Florida. SRI will
receive a $20 million Innovation Incentive Fund grant from the State of Florida. Contingent upon a formal agreement, the City of St. Petersburg will provide a site
for SRI's new 30,000- to 35,000-square foot facility, and will design and
construct the facility to accommodate 100 employees at the Port of St. Petersburg within the Bayboro area, a designated State Enterprise Zone. The
city will lease the new facility directly to SRI. Funding for the design
and construction of the new facility will be provided by the State of Florida and Pinellas County, which will each provide $5 million for the R&D
facility.
SRI officials say their initial focus will be on
research and development, technology transfer, and commercialization of
marine science. Over time, they expect 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.
"Today, we become partners with one of the best
research institutes in the world, with a record for identifying and
commercializing innovations. It strengthens our university, it strengthens
our business community, and it attracts attention from the world interested
in innovation, including the much sought-after venture capital
community," said Stuart Rogel, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay
Partnership.
To
visit the SRI website click here
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