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.

FORMULATED SOLUTIONS

Getting Creative

Formulated Solutions, a medical and personal products manufacturer in Largo, works with companies on better ways to formulate and market their products. One large company, for example, found that despite years of research, customers weren't using a line of therapeutic skincare products it had developed.

Formulated Solutions devised a revamped product using a new dispensing technology that increased product absorption and made it easier to apply. The eN2fused Whipped Lotion Technology infuses millions of microbubbles that expand when dispensed. The product became a best seller and won several industry awards.

Founded in 1999, the company now occupies 17 acres in Largo with a 220,000sq.ft. facility. Founder and CEO Eric Dann says, “product development and innovation has always been at the core of how we support our customers.”

HEALTHMAP SOLUTIONS

Detecting Kidney Disease

More than 30 million Americans have kidney disease, but 10% of those with the disease don't know they have it. Tampa startup Healthmap Solutions is trying to change that and just received an $85million investment from New York-based private equity firm WindRose Health Investors to help make it happen.

Healthmap’s Kidney Health Management program has been shown to detect the disease early. It uses data supplied primarily by insurance companies and health care providers to identify those who are at risk or may already have kidney disease but are unaware. Health care companies reach out to those at risk to provide care. Healthmap also provides information on kidney disease directly to patients.

Joe Vattamattam, CEO of Healthmap, says WindRose’s investment will help the company accelerate its growth. “We expect to provide these services in 12 states in 2020 and to continue to expand from there with a geographic expansion strategy."

Incubators and Accelerators

• Tampa Bay Wave
• FloridaIsrael Business Accelerator
• Embarc Collective
• Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
• USF Connect
• Tampa Bay Innovation Center/TEC Garage

Tampa Bay Standouts

• MacDill Air Force Base, home to Central Command and Special Operations Command, draws leading defense contractors to the region that develop everything from more secure GPS technology to holographic imagery for the field.
• Dais Corp. in Odessa uses nanotechnology to create ecofriendly heating and cooling products, water purification and energy storage.
• Jabil, headquartered in St. Petersburg, is an international manufacturing solutions company providing design, manufacturing, supply chain and product management services.
• KnowBe4, based in Clearwater, markets cybersecurity training and a simulated phishing platform that deals with social engineering.
• Mosaic, based in Tampa, is one of the world’s largest fertilizer companies.
• NDH Medical is a St. Petersburg contract medical device manufacturer that provides specialized tubing, insert and injection molding and other services.
• Raymond James, a brokerage based in St. Petersburg, spends more than $400 million a year on technology, including in-house developed fintech applications.
• ReliaQuest is a Tampabased global cybersecurity provider.
• Tech Data, Florida’s largest publicly traded company, is a multinational distribution company specializing in IT products and services.
• Vology, headquartered in Clearwater, is an IT service provider employing more than 300.
• Voalte in Sarasota provides secure communications tools for the medical industry.