The University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida High Tech Corridor have announced a partnership with the ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg, expanding opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs to engage with USF’s research and innovation resources.
The ARK Innovation Center, which began operations in early 2024, was established through a collaboration involving ARK Invest—an asset management firm founded by Cathie Wood—alongside the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, Pinellas County, the city of St. Petersburg, and federal partners. The center aims to support early-stage companies working on technologies such as machine learning, energy, fintech, artificial intelligence, and blockchain by providing mentorship, collaborative workspaces, prototyping labs, coaching, and access to capital.
USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering will establish a presence at the ARK Innovation Center as part of this initiative. The collaboration is expected to benefit startups at the center by offering events and programming hosted by USF and the Corridor. Entrepreneurs will also have access to USF faculty and research centers—including USF Technology Transfer—and may participate in student internships or research partnerships through 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, commented: “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 provides proximity for USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering—which works on projects related to national security and dual-use technologies—to St. Petersburg’s growing maritime and defense sector.
Darren Schumacher, president and CEO of 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.”
This partnership follows other recent collaborations in Tampa Bay’s innovation landscape. In July 2025, USF became the first university member of Embarc Collective’s University Partnership Program. In September 2025, USF signed an $85 million contract with the U.S. Army to conduct research in cybersecurity, biotechnology, and energy sciences.
Additionally, USF works regularly with local organizations such as St. Petersburg Innovation District and Tampa Bay Wave on projects like The Continuum—a $13.9 million grant-funded effort supported by NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerators program—to address oceanic challenges through technology accelerators.
For more information about collaborating or accessing resources at the ARK Innovation Center, interested parties can contact USF’s Office of University Community Partnerships.
