sdPhotonics Nears Completion of Second Phase of Contract to Develop High Power Laser for U.S. Air Force

ORLANDO, Fla. – sdPhotonics is nearing completion of the second phase of a research and development contract to develop a specialized high-powered laser for the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Sabine Freisem, president of sdPhotonics, said she expects to complete the work in March.

Dr. Dennis Deppe, chief executive officer of the firm, said the contract is worth $850,000.

“The work we are doing represents a major breakthrough in laser technology,” Dr. Deppe said.

Researchers from UCF spin-off sdPhotonics, in collaboration with the College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL at the University of Central Florida, have now demonstrated what may become the most reliable laser diode technology ever developed. Recent laboratory measurements show that the new laser diodes pass unprecedented stress testing, and the new approach provides important insights into why other laser diodes fail. The new technology may ultimately produce the most reliable laser diodes ever developed, with failure times that could reach 10 M hours (1000 years) or more. The new technology could reduce testing and lower the cost for laser diodes.

The new laser diodes represent a sharp departure from past commercial devices in how they are made, especially that they can be made smaller while eliminating the need for non-semiconductor materials around their active light generating part. The most surprising aspect of the new technology is how it responds to high internal temperature and high current stress. The new devices show almost no change in operation under stress conditions that cause commercial devices to rapidly fail. Although the research team was expecting the new laser diodes to be more reliable, actually reaching high reliability can be a tedious process in laser development, requiring extensive optimization of numerous separate fabrication steps. The new laser diodes did not require these steps, and their unique characteristics are now shedding new insights into just why existing commercial laser diodes fail.

The team is currently perfecting other aspects of the new laser technology, including its efficiency and beam properties. They believe that one of the most important applications could be for laser diodes in space. These laser diodes will require very high reliability, and defects caused by space radiation can play a major role in their failure. By reducing the flow of point defects in the crystalline semiconductor of the new technology, these could prove the most resistant laser diode yet to space radiation, making them useful on earth and in space because of their high reliability.

High power laser diode technologies that sdPhotonics is developing provide improved power, efficiency, brightness and reliability, Dr. Deppe said.

Dr. Freisem, a native of Germany, is a graduate of Leiden University in the Netherlands and has more than six years of experience in laser technology. She is currently senior research scientist for the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Deppe, a graduate of University of Illinois has more than 20 years of experience focused on laser physics, semiconductor lasers and materials, nanostructures and quantum optics. He is currently endowed chair / professor of the College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida.

sdPhotonics is located at the University of Central Florida Business Incubator-Photonics in the Center for Research & Education in Optics & Lasers (CREOL) on the University’s main Campus in East Orlando.
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For more information contact: Sabine Freisem, President, sdPhotonics 407-929-6675, sfreisem@cfl.rr.com; Dennis Deppe, Chief Executive Officer, sdPhotonics, 407-823-6870. ddeppe@creol.ucf.edu; Gordon Hogan, Director of Operations, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-1577, ghogan@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 160 emerging companies (including nearly 100 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With eight – and soon nine – facilities opened across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and will be adding Volusia County. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

OptiGrate Receives Florida Companies to Watch Award

ORLANDO – OptiGrate Corp has been recognized as a recipient of the 2011 Florida Companies to WatchSM award, an honor presented by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. The 50 companies were chosen after evaluating more than 310 nominations for the awards, represent industries ranging from alternative energy development to food production and industrial gear makers to information technology firms.

“It is truly an honor for us to be a part of the inaugural class of 50 Florida Companies to Watch,” says OptiGrate’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Alexei Glebov. “A strong presence of high-tech companies in the group is a sound indicator of the changing face of the Florida’s economy and OptiGrate is excited to contribute to it with our dedication to new technologies and innovation”.

Florida Companies to Watch is an awards program that celebrates privately held second-stage companies headquartered in the state. Awardees are selected for demonstrating the intent and capacity to grow based on employee or sales growth, exceptional entrepreneurial leadership, sustainable competitive advantage or other notable strengths.

“This statewide event lauds the success of business leaders who have taken their operations to the "second-stage" of growth and hold the potential to continue to create new jobs in their communities and industries, thereby making a difference in regional communities”, says Dr. Tom O’Neal, vice president for Research & Commercialization at the University of Central Florida.

The companies will receive their awards at an awards gala on Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida.

About OptiGrate Corp: OptiGrate Corp, founded in 1999, pioneered and successfully brought to market the innovative technology of volume Bragg grating based optical filters. The unique micro-optic components made by OptiGrate enable dramatic performance improvement of laser systems, vast miniaturization and cost reduction of analytical instruments and ultrafast lasers for medical, pharma, defense, nanotech, and other applications. OptiGrate supplies custom builds as well as volume orders of diffractive optical components to more than 200 customers on 5 continents, including government contractors, key industrial and academic players in optoelectronics, analytical, and semiconductor industries. Additional information about the company can be obtained at www.OptiGrate.com.

Nano Discovery, Inc. Wins $100,000 Florida Technology Grant

ORLANDO - Nano Discovery, Inc., a medical research bioassay company headquartered in southeast Orlando was recently awarded a Florida Technology Transfer and Commercialization Partnership Grant.

Dr. Qun Huo, founder and chief executive officer of Nano Discovery, LLC, and an associate professor at University of Central Florida’s NanoScience Technology Center, said the $100,000 grant will help further her efforts to develop a new bioanalytical technology for biomolecular and research and medical diagnosis using gold nanoparticles.

Nano Discovery expects to commercialize this new technology to the biomedical research community in 1-2 years and diagnostic market in 3-5 years.

Nano Discovery exhibited its latest technology products last month during the Particle 2010 conference on Medical/Biochemical Diagnostic, Pharmaceutical, and Drug Delivery Applications of Particle Technology at the Regal Sun Resort at Lake Buena Vista.

Nano Discovery LLC is a client of the UCF Business Incubation Program in the Central Florida Research Park.
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For more information about this release contact: Dr. Qun Huo, Chief Executive Officer, Nano Discovery, Inc, 407-770-8954 huo@nanodiscoveryinc.com; Carol Ann Dykes, Site Manager, UCF Business Incubation Program, 407-882-0211, cdykes@mail.ucf.edu

About the UCF Business Incubation Program: Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 140 emerging companies (including 90 current clients) create over $800 million in annual revenue and more than 1600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With seven facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, City of Sanford, the City of Winter Springs, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, The City of Kissimmee, the City of St. Cloud and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu.

Crossman & Company appoints Brian Carolan as Research Analyst

ORLANDO - Crossman & Company, the Orlando-based commercial property firm that ranks as one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management firms in the Southeast, has appointed Brian Carolan as research analyst.

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, said Carolan earned his Master’s Degree in Real Estate from the University of Florida and has more than two years of experience.

For more information, contact: John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com; Molly Delahunty, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6220 mdelahunty@crossmanco.com

About Crossman & Company: Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in the Southeast with over 16 million square feet under leasing and/or management. Founded in Orlando in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties and serves clients including Publix

Top GIS Software Architects at Data Transfer Solutions Publish Research Article in ESRI ArcUser Journal

ORLANDO - Two top GIS software architects at Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS), headquartered in Orlando’s downtown Avalon Park, were recently published in ESRI ArcUser, the world’s leading journal of the GIS (geographic information systems) and spatial modeling and mapping software industry.

A.M. “Trey” Fragala III, AICP, PMP, chief operating officer at Data Transfer Solutions, said Brian Noyle, senior project manager and software architect at DTS, and David Bouwman, chief technology officer, authored the technical article, Unit Testing for ESRI Developers to teach GIS developers how to engineer software tests before deployment of custom software systems.

“A recent survey showed that only about half of all GIS unit developers write unit tests,” Fragala explained. “Over the life of a custom GIS software project, maintenance costs will equal about half of the project development cost, so testing units beforehand can substantially reduce total project costs,” Fragala said.

Noyle and Bouwman rank among the top software engineers in the GIS industry, Fragala said.
Data Transfer Solutions provides geographic information systems (GIS), transportation planning and engineering, asset management, web design, custom applications development and video and multimedia production services to local governments and regional and state agencies throughout the U.S. The firm has offices in six states.
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For more information, contact: A.M. “Trey” Fragala, III, AICP, PMP, Chief Operating Officer, Data Transfer Solutions, 3680 Avalon Park East Blvd., Suite 200, Orlando, 32828; 407-382-5222; tfragala@edats.com

Crossman & Company Appoints Molly Delahunty Research Analyst

ORLANDO, Fla. - Crossman & Company, one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management firms in the Southeast, recently appointed Molly Delahunty as research analyst.

Justin Greider, senior associate at Crossman & Company, said Delahunty graduated from the University of Florida earlier this year. She will be part of the first ever Masters in Real Estate class at the University of Central Florida, beginning in 2010.

For more information please contact:

Justin Greider, Senior Associate, Crossman & Company/ICSC Florida Next Generation Chair, 407-581-6225; jgreider@crossmanco.com

John Crossman, CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218, jcrossman@crossmanco.com

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com

About Crossman & Company:

Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in the Southeast with over 16 million square feet under leasing and/or management. Founded in Orlando in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties and serves clients including Publix Super Markets, Inc., Lake Nona, PREIT, and LaSalle Investment Management. Please visit http://www.crossmanco.com/, or call 407-423-5400 for more information.

UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

UCF Business Incubation Program to Expand to Leesburg, St. Cloud

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, which currently serves more than 70 full-time clients in five Central Florida facilities, plans to expand to include programs in Leesburg and St. Cloud.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Research & Commercialization and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said he expects to open operations in St. Cloud and Leesburg by next spring.

Currently, the UCF Business Incubation Program operates two facilities near the University of Central Florida campus in Research Park, and three more – on Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando, in east Orlando on East Colonial and in Winter Springs at S.R. 434 and the 417.

“Effective incubation programs have proved to be the most cost efficient ways to stimulate local economic growth,” O’Neal explained.

O’Neal, who founded the UCF Business Incubation Program and ranks as one of the leading U.S. experts on business incubators, said successful incubation programs offer several common characteristics including: stable, sustainable program funding; a strong market position; entrepreneurial management; affiliation with a major research institution; a blue-ribbon board of directors or advisors; the ability to attract quality client companies; a strong client screening process; measurable goals and objectives; strong value-added services; and access to investment capital and community partnerships.

For more information contact:

Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

Crossman & Company Appoints Whitaker Leonhardt Research Analyst

Crossman & Company Appoints Whitaker Leonhardt Research Analyst

ORLANDO, Fla. - Crossman & Company, one of Central Florida’s leading retail leasing and property management firms, has appointed Whitaker Leonhardt research analyst.

John Crossman, president of Crossman & Company, said Leonhardt attended Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and will graduate with a masters degree in real estate from the University of Florida in May.

For more information please contact:
John Crossman CCIM, President, Crossman & Company, 407-581-6218
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142

About Crossman & Company:
Crossman & Company is one of the largest third-party retail leasing and management companies in Central Florida, based upon the total number of retail square footage. Founded in Orlando, Fla. in 1990, Crossman & Company is a full service commercial real estate firm that advises its clients in leasing, management, development and investment sales of retail and office properties. Please visit http://www.crossmanco.com/, or call 407.423.5400 for more information.

UCF and City of Orlando Business Development Center on Colonial Drive to Expand

UCF and City of Orlando Business Development Center on Colonial Drive to Expand

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Business Development Center District 2, (OBDC) a partnership of the City of Orlando and the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program, located at 3218 E. Colonial Drive, will expand over the next 90 days.

Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the University’s Department of Research & Commercialization and executive director of the UCF Business Incubation Program, said the center will more than double the size of its facilities from 2,400 square feet of office space to 6,000 square feet.

O’Neal said UCF is currently interviewing applicants to choose a full-time site manager for OBDC, which opened last year directly across from Fashion Square mall.

“Even in this economic slump, we are seeing a steady interest in business incubation from new companies in the community and we are increasing our capacity to serve more entrepreneurial enterprises,” O’Neal explained.

O’Neal said the Orlando Business Development Center was empowered by a recent nationwide study that shows business incubators rank as the most cost effective stimulators of local economic development.

“Job growth and economic activity in the U.S. are largely dependent on the health of small business enterprises, and effective business incubator programs are one of the best ways to stimulate small business growth and development,” O’Neal said. O’Neal said UCF Business Incubation Program client companies are already positioning themselves to take advantage of new funding offered by the U.S. Economic Recovery Act and stimulus programs.

The UCF Business Incubation Program currently serves more than 70 full-time client companies in five locations, and provides a wide range of walk-in services.

For more information contact:
Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.

UCF Incubation Program eyes U.S. Economic Stimulation grants for client companies, alternative energy, healthcare are big targets

UCF Incubation Program eyes U.S. Economic Stimulation grants for client companies, alternative energy, healthcare are big targets

ORLANDO, Fla. - Many of the more than 60 client companies at the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program could benefit from U.S. Economic Stimulus Program funding grants, loans and incentives, says founder and head of the program, Dr. Tom O’Neal, associate vice president for the UCF’s Department of Research and Commercialization.

But O’Neal cautioned that competition for the incentives could be tough.

“We anticipate there will be hundreds of companies writing grants and presenting proposals, so the competition for new funding should be brisk,” O’Neal said.

Many economic stimulus funding programs seem tailor-made for client companies in the UCF Business Incubation Program, O’Neal said.

For example, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) has more than $150 million in new funding available to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) received a 30 percent increase in their funding. “If that increases our grant success rate from 10-15 percent, that can be a significant boost,” O’Neal said.

New policy directions announced by the U.S. Department of Defense could aid the UCF Business Incubation’s technology companies as well.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced his preference for smaller, smarter defense innovations over multi-billion dollar weapons systems.

“That emphasis should effect our client companies,” O’Neal said. “Several companies competing for Small Business Administration SBIR and STTR grants for the defense industry are focused on small, innovative projects that substantially reduce costs and improve defense capabilities,” he said.

For more information contact:
Tom O’Neal. Ph.D, UCF Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization and Incubation Program Executive Director, 407-882-1120, oneal@mail.ucf.edu;
Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 Lvershelco@aol.com

About the UCF Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Incubation Program has helped more than 100 emerging companies (including nearly 70 current clients) create over $500 million in annual revenue and more than 900 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With five facilities across the metro Orlando community, the Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between UCF, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. For more information, please visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/.