The University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida High Tech Corridor have announced a partnership with the ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, aiming to strengthen support for startups and entrepreneurs working on emerging technologies.
The ARK Innovation Center, which began operations in early 2024, was created through a collaboration between ARK Invest—a global asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood—and several local and federal partners. The center is designed to help early-stage technology ventures grow by offering mentorship, workspace, prototyping labs, coaching, and access to capital.
Through this new initiative, USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering will establish a presence at the center. This move is expected to facilitate connections between startups and USF’s research capabilities, talent pool, and resources. Startups at the center will be able to participate in events and programs organized by USF and the Florida High Tech Corridor. They will also gain access to services that connect them with USF faculty, research centers such as USF Technology Transfer—which manages the university’s intellectual property portfolio—and opportunities for student internships and research partnerships via the Corridor’s Matching Grants Research Program.
Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center based at the ARK Innovation Center, stated: “Our partnership with USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering and the Florida High Tech Corridor brings world-class research and applied innovation directly into the ARK Innovation Center. Together, we’re creating a living lab where academia, industry and entrepreneurs collaborate to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. We are thrilled about this partnership.”
Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, said: “Partnering with the ARK Innovation Center aligns with the Corridor’s mission to advance innovation across our 23-county region. This unique center, in the heart of one of Florida’s most dynamic innovation hubs, is a launchpad for collaboration between inventors, entrepreneurs, researchers and industry leaders who are coming together to solve problems and shape the future.”
The location places USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering closer to St. Petersburg’s expanding maritime and defense sector—a cluster that includes private companies, government agencies, and academic institutions focused on national security needs.
Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering commented: “Our collaboration with the ARK Innovation Center is about accelerating defense innovation from concept to capability. By linking the Institute of Applied Engineering’s applied research and prototyping expertise with ARK’s entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem, we’re strengthening the pathway for dual-use solutions that serve both national security and commercial markets. This partnership reflects Tampa Bay’s growing role as a hub for mission-driven innovation.”
This partnership follows other recent collaborations in Tampa Bay’s innovation ecosystem. In July 2025, USF became the first university to join Embarc Collective’s University Partnership Program. In September 2025 it signed an $85 million contract with the U.S. Army for research projects including cybersecurity, biotechnology, and energy sciences.
USF and Florida High Tech Corridor also work closely with organizations such as St. Petersburg Innovation District and Tampa Bay Wave on initiatives like The Continuum—a project funded by a $13.9 million NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators grant—to address challenges affecting oceans and coastal communities.
For more information about collaborating or accessing resources at ARK Innovation Center, interested parties can contact USF Office of University Community Partnerships.
