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High-Tech Corridor
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
USF’s Role
In 2018, the University of South Florida ranked seventh nationally among public universities and 16th worldwide in U.S. patents granted for new technologies, tools and objects, according to the National Academy of Inventors and Intellectual Property Owners Association. With 96 patents, it topped all other Florida universities.
The university has campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, with areas of research ranging from nanotechnology to marine science.
St. Petersburg’s Bayboro Harbor area is home to the largest cluster of marine scientists and researchers in the Southeast. Anchored by the USF College of Marine Science, multiple local, state and federal marine-related agencies and private oceanic businesses have offices there.
USF Tampa also hosts the Florida Center for CyberSecurity (Cyber Florida), which works with Florida universities, industry and government to grow Florida’s cybersecurity industry.
USF — By the Numbers
- 50,577 — Enrollment
- $509.5 million — Research expenditures
- 79 — Undergraduate degrees
- 105 — Graduate degrees
- 49 — Doctoral degrees
Tampa Bay Snapshot
- 42 — Average age
- 89% — Have high school diploma
- 30% — Have bachelor’s degree or higher
- $30,738 — Per capita income
- $52,212 — Average household income
- $191,200 — Median home value
Population Breakdown
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranked ninth in the country in population growth in 201718, according to U.S. Census data.
- 1,436,888 — Hillsborough County
- 975,280 — Pinellas County
- 539,630 — Pasco County
- 426,217 — Sarasota County
- 394,895 — Manatee County
- Total: 3,772,910
Colleges and Universities
- University of South Florida
- Stetson University College of Law
- Eckerd College
- St. Petersburg College
- University of Tampa
- Hillsborough Community College
- State College of Florida ManateeSarasota
- New College of Florida
- Ringling College of Art & Design
- St. Leo University
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Florida Southern College
- Florida Polytechnic University
Medical Devices
Tampa Bay is home to more than 700 medical manufacturers. Pinellas County businesses alone account for one-fifth of the state’s medical device manufacturers and employ 5,600 workers. Most businesses are small, but together they pack a big economic punch, generating more than $71.5 million in goods in 2017, according to Enterprise Florida.
Florida overall ranks second only behind California in the number of FDA regulated medical device companies, says John Ray, executive director of the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium.
