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 provide startups and entrepreneurs with greater access to research, innovation resources, and talent from USF.
Through this collaboration, USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering will establish a presence at the ARK Innovation Center. The center supports early-stage companies working on technologies such as machine learning, energy, fintech, artificial intelligence, and blockchain.
Becca Brown, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, said: “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.”
Startups at the center will be able to participate in events and programs hosted by USF and the Corridor. They will also have access to services that connect them with USF faculty and departments such as USF Technology Transfer. This includes opportunities for student internships with USF and research partnerships through the Corridor’s Matching Grants Research Program.
Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, stated: “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 initiative also places USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering closer to St. Petersburg’s growing maritime and defense sector. The institute works on projects related to national security as well as technologies serving both government and civilian needs.
Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of the USF Institute of Applied Engineering said: “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.”
The ARK Innovation Center opened in early 2024 through a partnership involving ARK Invest—a global asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood—alongside local government agencies and federal partners. The center offers mentorship programs, collaborative workspaces, prototyping labs, coaching services, and access to capital for technology ventures.
This new partnership adds to recent efforts by USF to increase regional collaboration in innovation. In July 2025, USF became the first university member of Embarc Collective’s University Partnership Program; in September 2025 it signed an $85 million contract with the U.S. Army for research spanning cybersecurity to biotechnology; it also works closely with organizations like St. Petersburg Innovation District and Tampa Bay Wave on initiatives such as The Continuum—a $13.9 million grant project focused on ocean-related challenges funded by NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program.
For more information about collaborating or accessing resources at ARK Innovation Center, interested parties can contact USF’s Office of University Community Partnerships.
