There are shared spaces... and then there are shared communities. Spaces, while important, are will not yield results such as innovative products/services, new grant funding, or joint ventures unless you spend dedicated time building a community within the space. Connecting those in the space to each other and to those in other organizations is not a small feat. Our community is the most important part of the HUB. We talk about it a lot and reference it as if it is a living, breathing entity.
Over the last two months, the HUB hosted four events that illustrate the idea of community. The first was a tour with the International Marine Mineral Society. As part of their annual conference at the Vinoy, attendees learned about the technology being developed at the HUB and discussed future opportunities with HUB tenants.
The second event was a social as part of the annual program review for USF's Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technology (COMIT). Members of the COMIT team, NOAA, and their partners had a chance to informally come together and continue to explore the future of ocean mapping.
The third was a Coastal Community Happy Hour. Sponsored by Integral Consulting Inc, it brought together 100+ individuals from the Tampa Bay Area Marine Science Networking Happy Hour, St. Pete Ocean Team, HUB, Innovation District, and entrepreneurial community. Over beverages at the beer bus and in the food truck lines, they were able to meet people they didn't know, talk about projects they were working on, and imagine collaborations.
The most recent event was held last evening as part of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program Summit. Sponsored by Woolpert, this social brought together private industry, academia, and government representatives. This informal time created connections, allowed for informal discussions about the day's meetings and set the stage for today's workshops.
There are many quotes about innovation and how it is fostered. I have several hanging in my office. We recently looked to these as we were deciding the name for our new breakfast series. Our brainstorming kept coming back to the concept that ideas are the beginning - they create the "spark" that fuels innovation.
Congratulations to Sarah Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital for being named a 2024 BusinessWoman of the Year honoree. We are also thrilled that Sarah has recently joined the Board of Directors for the Innovation District.
The University of South Florida (USF) has announced its intention to create a college focused on the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and computing, with the goal of positioning the Tampa Bay region and state of Florida as a national leader. USF is the first university in Florida and among the first in the nation to announce plans to create a college dedicated to AI and cybersecurity.