We are very excited to welcome our second ecosystem from the United States: the Central Florida Life Science Cluster Ecosystem. Read this interview with Mark Spinoglio, Cluster Initiative Advisor & International Services at Cenfluence.
Who are the key stakeholders?
The following is a sample of key stakeholders within our ecosystem:
• Three of the country’s largest research institutions: the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Florida (UF);
• An extensive healthcare system that includes: Advent Health Hospital, Orlando Health Innovation Lab, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and Veterans Affairs National Simulation Center;
• A network of innovation facilitators that include: UCF Life Science Incubator, Advent Health Nicholson Center, GuideWell Innovation Center, and Orlando Health Innovation Lab;
• Market entry assistance providers that include: Orlando Economic Partnership, Orange County, Economic Development Administrator, and Enterprise Florida
What are the main objectives of your ecosystems?
We are focused on building an internationally recognized Life Sciences industry cluster that is globally competitive resulting in significant contributions to Central Florida’s economy.
Our strategic objectives are to:
• Provide targeted business services that support the growth of cluster members.
• Establish new opportunities for collaborative R&D between industry and the research community.
• Realize industry specific opportunities based on synergies and economies of scale.
• Foster innovation between facilitators of innovation and industry.
• Build international awareness and alliances, leveraging the associated opportunities through cluster representation.
Why did you join the ECHAlliance Network of Ecosystems?
Our goal is to utilize the ECHAlliance Network of Ecosystems to develop collaborations with ecosystems worldwide that benefit our cluster members and the greater Central Florida community. Cenfluence is open to developing collaborations that foster RDI activities and market opportunities for our cluster members and the organizations of our collaborators’ ecosystems.
Who is missing from your ecosystem in terms of stakeholders?
There are no significant gaps in our ecosystem. Besides a wide range of life science companies, we have stakeholders that represent the healthcare system, innovation facilitators (incubators, accelerators, investors, etc), and market entry assistance.
Which ecosystems are you looking to collaborate with?
We have placed a priority on European ecosystems due to: the market potential of Europe and the United States and RDI collaboration potential due to funding opportunities through Horizon Europe and US National Institutes of Health programs.
