Diane Sears | 9/24/2008

Demographics for the East Central/ Space Coast Region can be found at Business Florida's interactive map of Florida.

East Central/ Space Coast Resources: Universities/Colleges • Beacon College • Bethune-Cookman College • Brevard Community College • Daytona State College • DeVry University • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University • Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences • Florida Institute of Technology • Florida Technical University • Full Sail University • Lake Sumter Community College • Rollins College • Seminole Community College • Stetson University • University of Central Florida • Valencia Community College Airports • Daytona Beach International Airport • Melbourne International Airport • Orlando International Airport • Orlando Sanford International Airport Seaports • Port Canaveral

Florida’s East Central/Space Coast region continues to carve a niche for itself in technology. Known for the ingenuity that first launched space vehicles in the 1960s and built revolutionary theme park attractions in the 1970s, this area is today home to the nation’s largest cluster of modeling, simulation and training companies and the National Center for Simulation.

Add to that a growing presence in life sciences and biotechnology, with plans for a “medical city” in the huge Lake Nona development near Orlando International Airport and an increased focus on “economic gardening” — fostering companies that can grow and create jobs.

Emerging Medical City

At the 7,000-acre Lake Nona development in southeast Orlando, a “medical city” is rapidly taking shape. Projects scheduled to open in the next several years include:

• Burnham Institute for Medical Research — East Coast headquarters of the
  La Jolla, Calif.-based laboratory
• The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine — opening in fall 2009 with an inaugural class of 40
• Nemours Children’s Hospital — a 95-bed specialty pediatrics hospital and clinic
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center — includes a 134-bed hospital, nursing home and outpatient clinic
• University of Florida Research Facility — a partnership with Burnham Institute to study diabetes, aging, genetics and cancer
• MD Anderson Orlando Cancer Center Research Institute — sister facility to the Houston-based hospital ranked tops in the nation for cancer care

Healthcare Hub: Cutting-edge medical facilities already at home in Orlando/Orange County include:

Florida Hospital Orlando — ranked one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report for 10 consecutive years.

Global Robotics Institute — using robot-assisted laparoscopic technology for urological, gynecological, colorectal and cardiac procedures.

Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement — providing long-distance training in intricate surgical procedures via teleconferencing.

Tags: Space Coast, Business Florida