Spotlight On: Paul Sohl, CEO, Florida High Tech Corridor
July 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Paul Sohl, CEO of The Corridor, discussed significant achievements, particularly in clustering initiatives, collaboration with national organizations, and expanded research partnerships. The Corridor prioritizes inclusive engagement, fostering innovation, and supporting local businesses to amplify success.
What have been some of the key achievements related to The Corridor’s programs?
The Corridor has seen significant growth and achievements in various programs. Notably, our clustering initiative, Cenfluence, has garnered tremendous interest, growing to include over 175 companies. We have successfully established our fifth cluster for semiconductors in collaboration with the Orlando Economic Partnership and expanded our team with three new cluster managers. Additionally, we have secured funding from two new sources, underscoring the recognition of the value that clustering brings to the businesses involved and the surrounding communities. Clustering is more than just grouping businesses on a spreadsheet; it’s about building an ecosystem that fosters innovation across small, medium, and large companies.
Another area for growth is our collaboration with national organizations such as the Small Business Administration. A highlight was hosting the first stop of a 16-stop roadshow tour in Orlando, spearheaded by The Corridor. This event provided a platform for 200 small businesses and support organizations to meet one-on-one with representatives from federal agencies like NOAA, NSF, and NIH to learn about obtaining Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards. This event highlighted the significance of the $4 billion SBIR/STTR program and demonstrated our role in facilitating important connections between local businesses and national resources.
Furthermore, we have expanded our applied research partnerships with the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. Beyond our Matching Grants Research Program, we have initiated targeted programs, such as Duke Energy’s Industry Innovation Partnership program at UCF and the Early-Stage Innovation Fund at USF. These accomplishments reflect the collaborative efforts of our staff and the broader community across the 23 counties in the greater Central Florida area, highlighting the dynamic and innovative environment here in Florida.
How does The Corridor’s strategic focus and community-driven innovation shape your approach to regional economic development?
At The Corridor, our strategic focus is on community-driven innovation, which is crucial to our approach to regional economic development. We believe technology should address real-world issues at the community level rather than just existing for its own sake. We aim to move beyond merely a science project to becoming a deeply engaged and impactful entity. We emphasize inclusive engagement, which means identifying who is missing from the conversation and ensuring they have a seat at the table.
For instance, we won the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to better serve high-tech companies in rural communities within our 23-county region that were previously overlooked. This initiative exemplifies our effort to bring national programs into Florida to aid these communities, like Polk County and Volusia County, focusing on areas that often miss out. This creative approach is vital for fostering economic development in Central Florida and anywhere.
In what ways does The Corridor facilitate boundary-breaking collaborations among universities and high-tech industries to foster innovation?
The Corridor excels in facilitating boundary-breaking collaborations that go beyond traditional partnerships. We strive to encourage unexpected and innovative collaborations, such as combining artificial intelligence with music and the arts, to solve real-world problems. This approach involves rethinking conventional collaboration frameworks and inviting diverse perspectives that might not typically intersect.
Our role can be likened to that of Switzerland; we are neutral, not tied to any specific county or university, which helps reduce potential protective hesitations from our organizations. This neutrality allows us to foster an environment where partners are less concerned about protecting their turf and more focused on how they can contribute to a broader goal.
We actively engage across our 23-county region, from the Space Coast through Orlando to Gainesville and into Tampa, encompassing sectors from fintech to healthtech. The Corridor serves as a catalyst, encouraging entities to imagine new possibilities and share their innovative efforts. Whether it’s with entrepreneurs, small businesses, or support organizations like incubators, accelerators, or new players like Plug and Play, our objective is to energize and synergize the diverse ecosystems throughout Central Florida, profoundly impacting the regional economic landscape.
How does The Corridor help in talent development?
Talent development is a critical concern universally acknowledged by companies across the nation. At The Corridor, we recognize the need to engage potential talent from a young age. Over the past four years, our team has emphasized the importance of reaching out to increasingly younger demographics.
For instance, we collaborate with programs like the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame at USF to engage students from K-12 in inventor programs. Children are natural inventors, and nurturing this inventiveness is crucial as it lays the groundwork for future innovation. I will be participating as a judge at the National Invention Convention in June, where teams from Florida will be showcasing their creativity. By integrating innovation into education early on, we empower children to see themselves as future innovators, setting them on a path with boundless potential. Our workforce development efforts focus on fostering invention and innovation among the youth, which we see as essential to sustaining long-term economic growth.
How will The Corridor’s role evolve over the next couple of years?
Coming from a 33-year career in the Navy with no background in ecosystem building, innovation, or economic development, I had to ascertain where The Corridor could exert the most influence quickly. Our niche, we discovered, lies in leveraging the collective power of the 23 counties within the region, which often gets overlooked in traditional economic development focusing on single geographies.
Looking ahead, The Corridor is set to become a prominent regional player, recognized nationally and globally for its high-tech advancements. Over the next decade, I envision The Corridor being celebrated for its innovative contributions. The clustering strategy that has been successful here, inspired by similar models in Europe, will continue to be a priority. This approach boosts local innovation and attracts international businesses looking for a region that speaks their language of innovation.
Additionally, we will focus on supporting underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women founders who possess tremendous creativity but often lack access to necessary resources. By breaking traditional boundaries and walking alongside these entrepreneurs, we aim to foster an environment where innovation thrives and is accessible to all. This inclusive, supportive approach will be fundamental to our continued regional success and influence.
How does The Corridor support local businesses?
With regional partners, the Corridor effectively supports companies, showcasing collaborative benefits. For instance, Crypto Tutors struggled initially with funding but, with tailored guidance from our cluster manager, secured over $300,000 in federal awards. This illustrates our role in navigating local businesses to resources.
Another success story is Kismet Technologies, led by Dr. Christina Drake, which grew significantly with support from our network. Initially focused on hospitals, Kismet’s nanotechnology found a thriving market in the equine industry in Ocala, facilitated in part by our connections.
These examples demonstrate our focus on supporting businesses and founders, fostering innovation and success. From young inventors to postdoctoral students exploring entrepreneurial paths, the stories are inspiring and reflect the vibrant ecosystem we foster in Florida. Our goal is to amplify these successes, showcasing the dynamic innovation in our region.
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