NCS Uncategorized

Orlando execs praise return of live technology show I/ITSEC after pandemic pause (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on December 3, 2021

For 15 years, Waymon Armstrong took an old friend to lunch in Orlando during the annual Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, commonly known as I/ITSEC. That lunch didn’t happen last year for the CEO of Engineering and Computer Simulations Inc., one of Central Florida’s biggest simulation firms. It didn’t happen for anyone. The 2020 iteration of […]

UCF downtown Orlando incubator and Starter Studio moving to new home (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on November 21, 2021

Downtown Orlando is the site of one of three innovation districts operated by UCF, each with a focus on different industry clusters. Early-stage companies can join the innovation districts and get coaching, fundraising help and access to university resources. The Downtown Innovation District focuses on digital media, smart city tech, fintech, education tech and hospitality/tourism […]

Florida’s Space Coast is making a comeback thanks to private space flight (by Nicolas Rivero)

Posted on November 19, 2021

https://qz.com/2089990/private-space-flight-fueled-a-comeback-on-floridas-space-coast/ Florida’s “Space Coast”—a collection of launch pads and rocket factories in Brevard County, on the state’s east coast—has been a focal point for human space flight since the 1950s. It’s the spot from which the Apollo 11 astronauts ascended to the Moon in 1969. It’s where the US launched its first satellite (1958), astronaut […]

Copenhagen-based Software Company, eloomi, Establishes 1st U.S. Office in Orlando (by Amanda Roche)

Posted on November 17, 2021

Orlando, Fla. – eloomi A/S (“eloomi”), a global cloud-based people development software company, will open its first U.S. office in the City of Orlando. The company plans to create 50 new high wage jobs over the next few years. As a leading SaaS company, eloomi’s learning management system and performance management platform enables human resource (HR) directors to easily […]

Orlando firm Violet Defense to roll out new UV tech after closing investment round (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on November 16, 2021

An Orlando-based ultraviolet light technology company has attracted a New York-based investor and closed out a venture capital round that will help it continue its quick growth. Violet Defense Group Inc. closed a $20 million Series B investment round, the company announced Nov. 2. Executives told Orlando Inno the capital will enable Violet Defense to bolster its […]

Orlando among the nation’s 10 fastest-growing cities for entrepreneurs, according to LinkedIn (by Susan Lundine and Ryan Mulligan)

Posted on November 9, 2021

Orlando is the nation’s fastest-growing big city for entrepreneurs, according to LinkedIn’s State of Entrepreneurship report. In fact, the three fastest-growing cities for entrepreneurs are in Florida: Metro Orlando saw 46% growth in new businesses year over year, which was the best in the country. It was followed by Miami (No. 2), which saw 45% […]

Battery Tech Firm Microvast Opens New R&D Facility in Orlando, Creates 100 New High-Wage Jobs (by Amanda Roche)

Posted on November 5, 2021

Orlando, Fla. – Fast-growing manufacturer of battery power systems for electric vehicles (EV), Microvast, announced plans to establish a new research and development (R&D) facility and create a projected 100 new, high-wage jobs in the Orlando region. These jobs will pay 60 percent more than the average wage in Seminole County. The operation presents an expected investment of […]

2021 Florida Simulation Summit: Three Key Takeaways

Posted on October 31, 2021

Orange County Government’s annual Florida Simulation Summit highlights the region’s multibillion-dollar Modeling, Simulation and Training (MS&T) industry. This year, the event focused on cybersecurity and how the region can utilize the digital twin model – making virtual replicas of physical devices that can be uses to run simulations before actual devices are built and deployed – to […]

UCF’s Lou Frey Institute and faculty are helping develop civic education standards to encourage engaged citizenship (by Nicole Dudenhoefer)

Posted on October 29, 2021

UCF’s Lou Frey Institute and faculty are helping develop civic education standards to encourage engaged citizenship. Like “Reaching for the Stars and Stripes” on FacebookTweet “Reaching for the Stars and Stripes” on Twitter Fall 2021 | By Nicole Dudenhoefer ’17 Serving jury duty. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Running for public office. Celebrating your 18th birthday by casting your first ballot. Mounting an American flag […]

The story behind how UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy grew into an industry game changer (by Jenna Marina Lee)

Posted on October 28, 2021

Ahead of the Game The story behind how UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy grew into an industry game changer. Like “Ahead of the Game” on Facebook Tweet “Ahead of the Game” on Twitter Fall 2021 | By Jenna Marina Lee In 2006, Matt Laurence ’07MS was fresh out of college with a psychology degree pondering his next move when he […]

MCSC Begins Fielding Amphibious Robot System for Littoral Missions (by Seapower Staff)

Posted on October 27, 2021

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — In September, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) began fielding an amphibious, unmanned robot system to support littoral operations globally. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Remotely Operated Vehicle is a next-generation, box-shaped robot that enables Marines to navigate safely and efficiently in shallow waters to identify and neutralize explosive hazards and […]

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Sierra Space team up to build a ‘mixed-use business park’ in orbit (by Greg Avery and Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 26, 2021

Any business on the hunt for an office with a good view may have a new option this decade: outer space. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin LLC and Sierra Space Corp. have partnered to create a commercial space station similar to an orbiting business park, the companies announced Oct. 25. If successful, the collaboration between Kent, Washington-based […]

Simulation industry’s emerging ‘digital-twin’ tech creates opportunities in these 3 sectors (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 24, 2021

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/inno/stories/news/2021/10/22/simulation-sector-s-emerging-digital-twin-tech-c.html Imagine that you want to reduce jet lag from your upcoming international flight, and your virtual assistant prescribes you precise amounts of water, vitamins and exercise to reduce disruption to your sleep schedule. This isn’t a far-off science fiction scenario. This is one of the innovations in the works, thanks to digital-twin technology presented […]

Simulation industry’s emerging ‘digital-twin’ tech creates opportunities in these 3 sectors (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 22, 2021

Imagine that you want to reduce jet lag from your upcoming international flight, and your virtual assistant prescribes you precise amounts of water, vitamins and exercise to reduce disruption to your sleep schedule. This isn’t a far-off science fiction scenario. This is one of the innovations in the works, thanks to digital-twin technology presented in […]

Device Takes Telehealth to New Level with 3D Real-Time Visuals of Patients (by Meaghan Branham)

Posted on October 20, 2021

“Dr. Hologram” sounds like a character from the pages of a science fiction novel rather than a classroom teaching aide. The University of Central Florida, however, is writing it into the world of health care education, providing students with real-world innovation that was once confined to the imagination: a technology that projects a life-sized person […]

High-flying balloon travel startup Space Perspective lands big VC round (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 14, 2021

Space Perspective Inc. took off with a $40 million Series A round for its planned high-altitude balloon trips. Jackson, Wyoming-based venture capital firm Prime Movers Lab led the investment round for the Kenned Space Center-based company. The investment will help fund the firm’s mission to conduct the first commercial space balloon flight in 2024. Space […]

UCF soft-landing program draws out-of-state and international businesses to Orlando at quicker pace (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 12, 2021

UCF’s Business Incubation Program in the past 13 months lured at least six new-to-market companies through its soft-landing program, which is aimed at out-of-state and international firms. These firms bring Central Florida the possibility of new high-wage jobs and draw cutting-edge technology closer to potential local customers and partners. “It was like the floodgates opened,” […]

Maine startup KinoTek to open Lake Nona office after fundraising round (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 11, 2021

A wellness technology startup will establish a Central Florida presence after a Lake Nona-based fund led its recent investment round. Portland, Maine-based KinoTek Inc. will open an office in southeast Orlando’s Lake Nona community following a $2.1 million seed round announced on Oct. 6 and led by the Lake Nona Sports & Health Tech Fund, […]

British space laser firm Archangel Lightworks enters U.S. market through Orlando (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 7, 2021

A space laser firm is beaming new operations to Central Florida. Archangel Lightworks Ltd. in May established its first U.S. office at the University of Central Florida Research Park Business Incubator, and it plans to begin scaling its local team later this year and into next year, CEO Richard Johanson told Orlando Inno. The Oxfordshire, England-based company plans […]

Local Lockheed Martin division wins nearly a half-billion dollars in missile work (by Alex Soderstrom)

Posted on October 6, 2021

Lockheed Martin Corp. landed a modification to a Space Coast-based missile contract potentially worth more than $1 billion. Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin’s Titusville operations won a $445 million contract modification for a previously-awarded U.S. Navy contract to produce Trident II missiles, the Department of Defense announced Oct. 1. This modification will be worth more than […]