In this position, Jack will work with Corridor leadership to support both day-to-day operations and the long-term strategic growth of the Cenfluence initiative. A veteran ecosystem builder, Jack has been a member of The Corridor team since 2021; prior his career took him to the International Business Innovation Association and University of Central Florida Venture Accelerator.

Jack will continue working directly with innovative companies through two programs. He serves as Senior Cluster Manager for the Gaming, Entertainment and Immersive Technology cluster, providing tailored guidance to cluster members, and as Program Manager for the Florida Federal & State Technology Partnership Program (FL FAST), delivering programming across Florida related to R&D funding through the SBIR/STTR program.

This combination of on-the-ground support for companies and strategic operational leadership will help strengthen and expand the Cenfluence and FL FAST initiatives, advancing the Corridor’s mission to help high-tech companies launch, scale and grow across the region.

Jack, a native of Jacksonville, is a three-degree holder of the University of Central Florida with dual bachelor’s degrees in marketing and finance and an MBA.

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The USF-NRT Trainees are: (Top, left to right): Anne Evans, Kaleb Sharrer, Samir Ahmed, Logan DiFiore and John Maurer. (Bottom, left to right): Brian Murray, Isabelle Eskanos, Justin Mcmillen, Peter Kveton and Sean Knapp.

The 2026 Florida Semiconductor Institute Workforce Development award winners last week.

The collaboration supports graduate students participating in the National Science Foundation’s National Research Traineeship (NRT) program at USF, which focuses on semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging. Florida leaders have emphasized the importance of rebuilding domestic semiconductor capacity, and the program is designed to ensure the industry has the advanced talent needed for long-term success.

“The future of the semiconductor industry depends on people as much as technology,” said Corridor CEO Paul A. Sohl. “By investing in the training of the next generation of leaders, we’re ensuring Florida has the talent needed to drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and compete globally in this vital sector for decades to come.”

The Science, Technology, Engineering Program for Upward Partnership (STEP-UP) for Advancing Microelectronics Education and Training received the 2026 Florida Semiconductor Institute’s Workforce Development Program of Excellence Award at last week’s 2026 Florida Semiconductor Summit in Orlando.

The award recognizes Florida’s most outstanding workforce development initiatives that are expanding a highly skilled, job-ready talent pipeline for the semiconductor industry. The program’s leadership in learning and innovation, measurable success in trainee outcomes and ability to create and scale impactful career pathways was highlighted in the program’s recognition.

Through the partnership with USF, The Corridor is providing supplemental financial support to NRT trainees who are not eligible for external fellowships. The Corridor’s investment builds on a five-year, $3 million NSF grant awarded to USF in 2024 to develop a comprehensive, experiential education and research program in next-generation microelectronics. The program is led by USF College of Engineering Professor Ashok Kumar and a multidisciplinary team of faculty and staff with expertise spanning an array of engineering fields as well as innovation and entrepreneurism.

 A “much-publicized semiconductor chips shortage has impacted several critical industries. A skilled and diverse pipeline of workers is critical to building a sustainable domestic semiconductor industry and to achieving the CHIPS Act economic and national security goals,” said Kumar, the principal investigator of the NSF NRT. “This NRT grant will provide to better prepare master’s and doctoral students for the interdisciplinary talents required in semiconductor chip development.”

Graduate trainees receive extensive support, including an annual $34,000 stipend from the NSF NRT program, paid tuition and fees, and an additional $34,000 stipend through the Florida High Tech Corridor at USF.

Beyond financial support, students gain hands-on research experience and interdisciplinary training in semiconductor technology, along with professional development in entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, and project management.

The program also offers opportunities to earn a Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology Certificate, participate in summer internships, and pursue international research experiences, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the global semiconductor industry.

An industry and academia advisory board that includes both national and international leaders is helping shape the programs. The program also actively engages with the Florida Semiconductor Institute and with the Florida Semiconductor Engine based in NeoCityFL in Osceola County.

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The USF-NRT Trainees are: (Top, left to right): Anne Evans, Kaleb Sharrer, Samir Ahmed, Logan DiFiore and John Maurer. (Bottom, left to right): Brian Murray, Isabelle Eskanos, Justin Mcmillen, Peter Kveton and Sean Knapp.

TAMPA — For decades, Florida has been quietly building one of the most significant centers of semiconductor and microelectronics in the nation and has become home to scores of companies, thousands of high-wage jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, backed by strategic investments in the sector’s workforce and infrastructure.

The future of this fast-moving industry will depend on building a world-class talent pipeline, which is why the Florida High Tech Corridor and the University of South Florida launched a partnership to train a new generation of highly skilled graduate students in semiconductor and microelectronics technology, strengthening Florida’s role in a critical industry tied to both economic growth and national security.

The collaboration supports graduate students participating in the National Science Foundation’s National Research Traineeship (NRT) program at USF, which focuses on semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging. Florida leaders have emphasized the importance of rebuilding domestic semiconductor capacity, and the program is designed to ensure the industry has the advanced talent needed for long-term success.

“The future of the semiconductor industry depends on people as much as technology,” said Corridor CEO Paul Sohl. “By investing in the training of the next generation of leaders, we’re ensuring Florida has the talent needed to drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and compete globally in this vital sector for decades to come.”

Through the partnership, The Corridor is providing supplemental financial support to NRT trainees who are not eligible for external fellowships. The Corridor’s investment builds on a five-year, $3 million NSF grant awarded to USF in 2024 to develop a comprehensive, experiential education and research program in next-generation microelectronics. The program is led by USF College of Engineering Professor Ashok Kumar and a multidisciplinary team of faculty and staff with expertise spanning an array of engineering fields as well as innovation and entrepreneurism.

A “much-publicized semiconductor chips shortage has impacted several critical industries. A skilled and diverse pipeline of workers is critical to building a sustainable domestic semiconductor industry and to achieving the CHIPS Act economic and national security goals,” said Kumar, the principal investigator of the NSF NRT. “This NRT grant will provide to better prepare master’s and doctoral students for the interdisciplinary talents required in semiconductor chip development.”

Graduate trainees receive extensive support, including an annual $34,000 stipend from the NSF NRT program, paid tuition and fees, and an additional $34,000 stipend through the Florida High Tech Corridor at USF. Beyond financial support, students gain hands-on research experience and interdisciplinary training in semiconductor technology, along with professional development in entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, and project management.

The program also offers opportunities to earn a Semiconductors & Microelectronics Technology Certificate, participate in summer internships, and pursue international research experiences, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the global semiconductor industry. An industry and academia advisory board that includes both national and international leaders is helping shape the programs.

The program also actively engages with the Florida Semiconductor Institute and aligns with the Florida Semiconductor Engine based in NeoCity in Osceola County.

Meet some of the USF NRT trainees and learn about their work in this video from the USF College of Engineering.

USF NRT Trainees in the clean room at USF’s Nanotechnology Research and Education Center as they expand their expertise in semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing tools and serves as the primary location for the labs, allowing students to engage directly with the advanced technologies used in the microelectronics industry. (Photo courtesy of USF NRT Research Training Program.)

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The Florida High Tech Corridor’s 2025 Impact Report celebrates a year of bold progress toward building one of the world’s most collaborative innovation ecosystems. Guided by CEO Paul Sohl, The Corridor and its university partners — the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida — are working with the wider innovation ecosystem toward transformative growth across the 23-county region.

In 2025, The Corridor’s key efforts — the Matching Grants Research Program, which unites university innovators with industry; Cenfluence, the clustering initiative that is expanding the ecosystem; and FL FAST, which supports small tech firms in securing federal research and innovation grants — supported more than 375 companies, launched $8.5 million in university–industry partnerships, and helped startups secure over $10 million in funding. From students to seasoned entrepreneurs, it’s the people across the Corridor region who turn ideas into impact.

“Our innovation infrastructure is extraordinary — from HiPerGator, the fastest supercomputer at any U.S. university at the University of Florida; to a booming space industry marked by frequent launches and rapid expansion; to globally unique assets like the University of South Florida’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation and the University of Central Florida’s CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics,” Sohl wrote in the report.

“Our region has the tools to shape the future. Yet what continues to inspire me most are the visionaries who make those tools come alive. Across every community in The Corridor, it’s people of every industry, age and background who are driving the extraordinary rise of Florida’s innovation economy.”

Behind every achievement noted in this report is a shared value that innovation thrives when communities work together. As The Corridor approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, our team is dedicated to uniting bright minds, visionary institutions and entrepreneurial energy to build a more resilient, prosperous and connected future for all of Florida.

Read the 2025 Impact Report here.

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The ARK Innovation Center opened in early 2024 in a partnership between ARK Invest — the global asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood – with its focus on backing the technologies driving disruptive innovation.

ST. PETERSBURG — The University of South Florida and the Florida High Tech Corridor are joining the ARK Innovation Center, creating a new avenue for startups and entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate with the university’s research and innovation expertise as well as its talent pipeline.

In collaboration with the Florida High Tech Corridor, USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering will establish a presence at the state-of-the-art ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, which serves as a launchpad for early-stage companies focused on disruptive technologies such as machine learning, energy, fintech, artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center.

“Our partnership with USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering and the Florida High Tech Corridor brings world-class research and applied innovation directly into the ARK Innovation Center,” said Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an incubator based at the ARK Innovation Center. “Together, we’re creating a living lab where academia, industry and entrepreneurs collaborate to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. We are thrilled about this partnership.”

The initiative will create opportunities for startups located at the center to participate in events, programming and services hosted by USF and the Corridor, along with concierge services connecting entrepreneurs with USF faculty, research centers and departments, including USF Technology Transfer, which manages the university’s intellectual property portfolio. Companies will also have opportunities to establish student internships with USF, as well as research and development partnerships through the Corridor’s Matching Grants Research Program.

“Partnering with the ARK Innovation Center aligns with the Corridor’s mission to advance innovation across our 23-county region,” said Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor. “This unique center, in the heart of one of Florida’s most dynamic innovation hubs, is a launchpad for collaboration between inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders who are coming together to solve problems and shape the future.”

Sierra Perez of the Florida High Tech Corridor (left), Becca Brown, Taylor Johnson of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering, and Corridor Matching Grants Director at USF Elizabeth Nelson (right).

The location also brings the Institute of Applied Engineering – which focuses on specialty projects for national security and dual-use technologies for government and civilian contractors – closer to a rapidly expanding maritime and defense hub. St. Petersburg is home to a thriving cluster of private companies, government entities and academic institutions addressing maritime and national security needs.

“Our collaboration with the ARK Innovation Center is about accelerating defense innovation from concept to capability,” said Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering. “By linking the Institute of Applied Engineering’s applied research and prototyping expertise with ARK’s entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem, we’re strengthening the pathway for dual-use solutions that serve both national security and commercial markets. This partnership reflects Tampa Bay’s growing role as a hub for mission-driven innovation.

The ARK Innovation Center, which opened in early 2024, was launched through a partnership between ARK Invest — the global asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood – with its focus on backing the technologies driving disruptive innovation. She joined the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, Pinellas County, the city of St. Petersburg and federal partners in the mission to accelerate growth of early-stage tech and innovation ventures by providing mentorship, collaborative workspace, prototyping labs, coaching and access to capital.

The new partnership also is one of several examples of greater connection and collaboration among the drivers of innovation across the Tampa Bay region.  In July, USF was selected to become the first university to join Embarc Collective’s new University Partnership Program and in September, it signed a contract with the U.S. Army for up to $85 million to conduct a wide range of research, including cybersecurity, biotechnology and energy sciences.

In St. Petersburg, USF and the Corridor regularly collaborate with the St. Petersburg Innovation District and Tampa Bay Wave, including on The Continuum — a $13.9 million grant from the NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program to tackle critical challenges impacting our ocean, coastal communities and economy through the Wave’s Blue Tech | X Accelerator.

To learn more about opportunities to collaborate or access resources at the ARK Innovation Center, contact the USF Office of University Community Partnerships.

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Higher education leaders shared insights on preparing the semiconductor workforce in Florida. Photo: Florida Semiconductor Engine.

KISSIMMEE (Sept. 2, 2025) — Florida leaders from government, industry and higher education say the state is poised to become an international hub for specialized semiconductor innovation as they gathered for the inaugural Florida Semiconductor Engine Conference “Powering Prosperity,” drawing more than 250 participants for the milestone event on Aug. 28.

“This conference is more than a singular event,’’ said Ron Piccolo, interim CEO of the Florida Semiconductor Engine. “It is the continuation of strategic, bold, and coordinated efforts that will shape the future of semiconductor technology in Florida, the U.S., and around the world.”

The National Science Foundation-backed consortium, which is headquartered at Osceola County’s NeoCity technology district, could receive up to $160 million over the next decade to grow the state’s advanced semiconductor packaging industry. Osceola County has received $50.8 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in 2022 through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge and the county is set to receive up to $289 million from the Department of Defense for microchip production and related workforce development.

Panel discussions throughout the day focused on workforce needs and education pipelines, but also gathered an array of industry, academic and economic development leaders to build momentum for the semiconductor sector — with an emphasis on advanced packaging which enables specific, complex technologies in contrast to the chips used in everyday items — in Florida. Florida has a significant and growing semiconductor sector that is well-positioned for future growth amid a national effort to reshore semiconductor manufacturing as well as growing demands for the technology as AI, the space industry and a host of other tech-driven sectors accelerate.

Florida ranks third in the U.S. for semiconductor establishments and fifth for semiconductor manufacturing employment with more than 18,000 jobs. On a national level, the focus on returning semiconductor manufacturing to the U.S. is gaining momentum, promising billions of dollars of investment and a half-million new jobs.

“We are in the perfect position, I’d argue, and the best position of any state in the nation to be able to go out and attract those jobs,” said Florida Commerce Deputy Secretary Jason Mahon, noting the state has invested $380 million in semiconductor workforce education over the past four years.

Preparing Florida’s Semiconductor Workforce

Paul Sohl

Florida High Tech Corridor CEO Paul A. Sohl led a panel discussion on preparing the semiconductor workforce in Florida with University of Central Florida President Alexander N. Cartwright, Valencia College President Kathleen Plinske, University of South Florida Vice President for Research & Innovation Sylvia Wilson Thomas, PhD and Florida Semiconductor Institute Director David Arnold of the University of Florida. All four institutions are part of the NSF Engine coalition.

The panel highlighted Florida’s drive to develop the talent pipeline to grow and sustain the high-tech workforce includes producing researchers and innovators, but also the technical talent that drives the production industry requires.

Just the day before the conference, Valencia College unveiled Florida’s first associate in science degree in Semiconductor Engineering Technology. Launched in partnership with the Florida Semiconductor Engine, the program is designed to train technicians particularly at the NeoCity technology district and was developed with input from SkyWater Technology and other employers. “Give us 15 weeks — and we can help you earn an industry certification that will land you a full-time job with benefits,” Plinske said.

Cartwright said UCF has expanded its engineering enrollment from 12,000 to 17,000 students and aims to reach 50,000 technology majors to meet the talent and skills demand. “UCF was founded as a startup with a mission to provide workforce, and that’s the mindset we need to expand across Florida,” he said.

Sylvia Wilson Thomas is an internationally-known expert in microelectronics.

Thomas, a microelectronics expert whose many inventions have earned her a place in the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, said semiconductors go beyond technology prowess and are a crucial component in addressing some of the world’s great challenges. “When we talk about AI, what is the underlying technology behind it? It’s semiconductors,” she said. “Helping society understand that research in this field directly impacts health, transportation, and communication is critical and commercialization is how we turn that into real impact.”

Arnold said partnerships and collaborations are key to building upon Florida’s foundation in semiconductors, but more needs to be done to move ideas from university labs to market and connect investors and industry to higher education’s innovations. He described one new effort by the Florida Semiconductor Institute, Lab Link, which is sparking new connections between Florida’s universities and also between students and faculty members.  “We challenge these teams of students to come up with an idea that came out of (their) conversations,” he said. “Our goal is to try to fund these as collaborative inter-institutional research partnerships.”

Voices from the Conference

Ron Piccolo, Interim CEO of the Florida Semiconductor Engine: “We have a mission to transform the U.S. semiconductor industry through collaborative research, to build the most advanced technical workforce in the nation and to create regional economic prosperity that has national and global impact. Now, these are not small ambitions. These are rather bold statements — especially when we talk about things like global leadership and industry transformation. If this were to happen, it won’t happen by accident and it won’t happen by good luck. It will only happen by visionary leadership.”

Don Fisher, Osceola County Manager and leading figure in the development of NeoCity, a 500-acre technology district in Kissimmee: “We have been in this development process since 2014. … It’s just a long haul to keep rolling it forward to get those businesses and get that cluster going. ..Something is going is right. In the past 36 months we have received over $500 million in investment, either from the State of Florida or our federal partners.

“Osceola County and its partners were one of three clusters in the United States that received both Build Back Better and National Science Foundation awards. So, if you are wondering if you did something well — you want to be affirmed that the decision you made back in 2014 were the right ones — the federal government is telling us you did the right thing, continue to work on it.”

Jason Mahon, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development for Florida Department of Commerce: “About four years ago, we recognized making investments in growing the semiconductor industry in Florida. We recognize it would be really important from both a national security perspective and a lot of opportunity for the state.

“At the state level, we’ve invested $380 million into the workforce education side and we did that because we believe, fundamentally, that’s where we need to have our investments if we are going to have these opportunities and we are going to grow. … Obviously, you build facilities and you invest in infrastructure, but if you don’t have people who are going to work in them, we’re not actually going to go anywhere.”

• Learn more about the Florida Semiconductor Engine here.

• Learn more about Cenfluence’s semiconductor cluster here.

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