Central Florida has a resource matched by few other regions in the United States: GROWTH! This exciting and rapid growth of our attractions, population, university and opportunities has created an ideal environment for those with an entrepreneurial mindset. Current projections suggest that the region's growth will continue as our population grows to over 7 million in the next few decades. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Orlando has placed first on Entrepreneur magazine and BizJournal’s most recent lists of prime locations for entrepreneurship and small business ownership.
 UCF's Rapid Growth and Improvement
Originally founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 to serve the needs of Florida’s Space Coast, UCF has become a national leader in technology creation and is a growing (in size and stature) presence in the academic landscape.
Recently, a hearty band of entrepreneurial administrators and faculty from the College of Business Administration and the Office of Research and Commercialization joined forces to create the UCF Entrepreneurship Network. This group aligns the efforts of the UCF-CEI, Economic Development Office, Technology Transfer Office, Technology Incubator, Venture Lab and SBDC to enhance their respective missions and contributions to research commercialization, new venture creation, and regional economic development.
Our center has many university and regional assets from which to build. For example, you probably didn’t know that:
| UCF is the nation’s 6th largest university. |
| UCF’s average incoming freshman SAT score is 1217. |
| UCF is a top-40 ranked university for quality in technology programs (Source: Technology Review). |
| UCF earns over $121 Million in annual research awards, representing approximately a 223% increase in research funding since 1999. |
| UCF has the nation’s 2nd largest business school. |
| UCF's Technology Business Incubator recently earned the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA) #1 ranking. |
| UCF's Central Florida Research Park is recognized as one of the top-10 in the world. |
| UCF supports the nation's 2nd Small Business Administration National Entrepreneurship Center. |
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Furthermore, Orlando and the Central Florida Region provide a rich setting for instigating and investigating new business ventures:
| Orlando has been named the “Number One City for Entrepreneurs” by Entrepreneur Magazine. |
| The Central Florida Research Park, totaling more than 1,025 acres, has been ranked as one of the top ten such parks in the nation. This area is currently home to 85 companies employing more than 8,500 people. |
| Metro Orlando has been named “Major Market of the Year” for the second time in three years by Southern Business & Development magazine. |
| Orange County, which surrounds Orlando, has approved "Innovation Way", an economic corridor beginning at UCF and the Central Florida Research Park, continuing through a planned 2nd Research Park, UCF Medical School, Burnham Institute, and Veteran's Hospital, and terminating at the Orlando International Airport. |
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UCF and Central Florida offer many outstanding intellectual and economic resources. UCF-CEI and the UCF Entrepreneurship Network are working to position UCF as a national leader in entrepreneurship education, research commercialization, venture creation, and economic development partnerships.
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