Promoting Research and Economic Development in the SUS
In the areas of research and economic development, the Academic and Student Affairs Unit within the Board of Governors Office is responsible for implementing and administering the programs established by the 21st Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement Act, via its dual role as liaison to both the Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board, and the Board of Governors' Research and Economic Development Committee. In addition to managing the 21st Century Centers of Excellence Program, the 21st Century World Class Scholars Program, the State University System Research and Economic Development Investment Program, and the State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grant Program, the unit works with both boards to align research and development efforts with established statewide economic development strategies, increase technology-based business in the state, promote accountability in related research and economic development initiatives, and facilitate value-added job creation through continuous improvement in university research, entrepreneurship, and capital development programs.
- 21st Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement Act Programs
The 21st Century Technology, Research, and Scholarship Enhancement Act ("the Act"), established during the 2006 Florida Legislative Session and amended during the 2007 Legislative Session, provides for the establishment of university-based Centers of Excellence, to give Florida a clear position of leadership in key emerging technology areas with the unique potential for economic and societal impact in the years to come. The Act also includes the 21st Century World Class Scholars Program which will provide matching funds to state universities, in order to attract nationally-recognized faculty in the areas of the sciences, engineering, and technology and mathematics (STEM). Other programs under the Act include the State University System Research and Economic Development Investment Program and the State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grant Program
The Act establishes the Florida Technology, Research, and Scholarship Board ("Board") within the Board of Governors (BOG) of the State University System to develop and approve the criteria for evaluating proposals related to the creation of new, or expansion of, existing Centers of Excellence, to solicit proposals from Florida universities for creating new or expanding existing Centers of Excellence, to review and make recommendations regarding Centers of Excellence to the BOG for its consideration for funding, and develop and recommend to the BOG criteria for the 21st Century World Class Scholars awards. - 21st Century Centers of Excellence Program
This program was created to give Florida a clear position of leadership in key emerging technology areas with the unique potential for economic and societal impact in the future, through the a competitive process to establish Centers of Excellence. For the 2006-07 fiscal year, $30 million was allocated for this program, and six Centers of Excellence were selected. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, $100 million has been allocated. - State University Research Commercialization Assistance Grant Program
The goal of this program is to increase commercialization of products and technologies that emerge from research taking place at state universities in Florida. The FTRSB will review and approve research commercialization grants, and the $4 million appropriation will be used to award grants in three phases of early state process grants and formal project grants. - 21st Century World Class Scholars Program
This program, which provided matching funds to state universities, was created in order to attract nationally-recognized faculty in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). During the 2006-07 fiscal year, $20 million was allocated for this program, and 16 Scholars were recommended for funding. - State University System Research and Economic Development Program
This program was established in order to enhance graduate education and enable state universities to become nationally competitive in science and technology-based economic development. In 2006, a total of $45 million in matching funds to eligible institutions was provided to construct and acquire cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, science and engineering research facilities and specialized equipment to support research programs, foster economic development, and accelerate Florida's innovation economy. University eligibility was determined by certain criteria specified in the Bill, which provided $36.5 million for Level I institutions, and $8.5 million for Level II institutions. Based upon eligibility determination, Level I funding was divided between two SUS institutions (UF and FSU), and one SUS institution received Level II funding (USF).
For further information on any of the 21st Century programs, please email: 21stCentury@flbog.org
