The Florida Chamber Foundation recently hosted the Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit, which brought together business leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss strategies for advancing the state’s economy through technology. The event featured Cathie Wood of ARK Invest and Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly as keynote speakers.
Other notable participants included State Representative John Snyder, Linda Olson of Tampa Bay Wave, Paul Sohl from Florida High Tech Corridor, Adrienne Johnston of CareerSource Florida, TJ Villamil from eMerge Americas, Robert Harvey with the Florida Opportunity Fund, Nat Ford of Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Rhea Law from the University of South Florida, James Henningsen from the College of Central Florida, and Jennifer Crabtree with Tampa General Hospital.
Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation said: “Florida’s future economy is being built by visionaries who are solving real-world challenges with scalable, market-ready solutions. The Florida Technology & Innovation Solutions Summit brought together the best mix of future-focused leaders, innovators, and investors to ensure Florida remains on the right path toward becoming the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030 and the most competitive state in the nation.”
During the summit:
– Secretary J. Alex Kelly described how state programs are drawing high-growth industries to Florida.
– Cathie Wood spoke about using new technologies to make Florida a leader in investment and innovation.
– Representative John Snyder discussed investments in technology infrastructure and workforce development aimed at supporting small businesses across the state.
– Dr. Scott Angle addressed advances in agricultural technology that support food security and sustainability for farmers.
– Nat Ford talked about transit technology improvements connected to economic development goals within initiatives like Autonomous Florida.
– Aundra Wallace focused on regional partnerships for talent pipeline growth.
– Jennifer Crabtree highlighted healthcare innovations at Tampa General Hospital that are improving patient outcomes statewide.
Panel discussions covered topics such as public-private investment involving organizations like eMerge Americas and Embarc Collective; innovation districts including University of South Florida Research Park; Lake Nona Medical City; Tampa’s Water Street District; and strategic partnerships supporting early-stage business growth. Attendees networked with industry professionals and explored ways to build a more resilient economy.
A highlight was the Innovation Pitch Competition featuring five early-stage companies. Matt Donovan—CEO and Co-Founder of Agriculture Intelligence (AgIntel)—won for his company’s AI-powered platform that helps farmers optimize yields while reducing waste. As part of his prize package AgIntel will present at next year’s Florida Venture Capital Conference—one of America’s largest venture capital gatherings—and participate in eMerge Americas’ Global Startup Accelerator program.
Dr. Keith Richard, Vice President of Research at the Foundation stated: “From agriculture to biotech to cybersecurity, the companies we saw on stage are proof that Florida is cultivating an ecosystem where innovation can thrive.”
A follow-up virtual webinar open to all will be held September 15th at 11 am for continued discussion on advancing tech leadership in Florida.
The Foundation describes itself as a non-partisan research organization focused on long-term strategies for economic competitiveness under its Six Pillars framework. It works with regional partners through its Community Development Partnership Council—a group providing expertise and funding—to support projects across talent development, infrastructure improvement, government efficiency efforts and more (https://www.flchamber.com/cdp). Those interested in joining or learning more can contact Dr. Keith Richard directly.
