Some movement at Life Sciences South Florida, but not much otherwise

Gov. Rick Scott has long viewed higher education as a pathway to growing jobs. One way to stoke job growth is by encouraging partnerships between state universities and the business world, according to Scott.

During his 2010 campaign, Scott said he wanted universities to partner with private industry "to pursue advanced applications, production and research in sustainable energy endeavor." While that's a very broad promise, he did narrow it by saying he wanted to expand the Florida High Tech Corridor Council throughout the state.

The corridor council, launched in the 1990s, is an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida to grow high-tech industry and innovation through research, workforce and marketing partnerships. The legislature appropriated $7.1 million a year for every year of Scott's tenure -- the same as Gov. Charlie Crist's last year in office.

The Legislature and Scott also approved an additional $2 million for grants programs in 2012-13 and $2 million in 2013-14.

As Scott finished his third year in office we wanted to check on his progress on university-private partnerships and expanding the high-tech council.

A spokesman for Scott pointed to one example: a public-private partnership to build student housing at Florida Atlantic University in 2011. We did not see how that dorm was related to expanding the high-tech council or "advanced applications, production and research in sustainable energy endeavor."

We also contacted some officials at universities to ask if they knew of any developments related to Scott's promise to expand the high-tech corridor.

Officials at FIU pointed to Life Sciences South Florida launched in August 2010 when Scott was campaigning for governor.

The group's goals include recruiting workers for life sciences and IT, developing a regional internship program and improving workforce development, for example by building programs that range from one-year certificates to postdoctoral. The project has multiple partners including universities, research parks and South Florida economic development agencies, but it has not asked for state funding so far, though it plans to do so in the future. Life Sciences has applied for federal funds but hasn't received any such money. The initiative held a STEM symposium at Miami Dade College in March and plans a similar one for students to present their work at FIU in 2014.

"We are inviting industry to come in as judges and view presentations,"said  FIU's vice president for engagement Irma Becerra-Fernandez. "It's an opportunity to identify talent for internships."

Scott promised to support university-private sector partnerships that "pursue advanced applications, production and research in sustainable energy endeavor," including adding programs similar to the high-tech corridor council throughout the state. There has been some movement in this area with respect to Life Sciences South Florida, but we haven't seen any involvement from Scott for that project.

We'll watch Scott's final legislative session of his current term to see if there is more movement in this area. For now, we keep this promise at In the Works.