NCS News Desk

https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-names-new-director-for-school-of-modeling-simulation-and-training/ The University of Central Florida today named Grace Marie Bochenek ’98PhD its new director of the School of Modeling, Simulation and Training following a national search. Bochenek brings more than 25 years of experience working in defense and energy research, most recently as director of the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh. Her experience driving innovation through technology […]

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/31/microsoft-wins-contract-to-make-modified-hololens-for-us-army.html KEY POINTS Microsoft will deliver to the U.S. Army more than 120,000 devices based on its HoloLens augmented reality headset. The deal, which could be worth as much as $21.88 billion over 10 years, follows a contract Microsoft received to build prototype headsets for the Army. The contract comes a year and a half […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/19/city-of-orlando-seeks-nasa-help-to-bring-flying-ta.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=or&ana=e_or_ae&j=23276048 Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s flying taxis in the future skies of downtown Orlando. The city of Orlando plans to apply to a NASA program that will give the city input from NASA scientists and experts on how to build an air transportation system to usher people and goods across […]

https://www.halldale.com/articles/18214-mst-tech-grove-opens-with-successful-visit-from-navy-leader?v=preview   Tech Grove Opens with Successful Visit from Navy Leader | 2021-03-12 | Halldale Group Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gilday visited the Central Florida Tech Grove in an event hosted by Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Commanding Officer Tim Hill and NavalX Central Florida Tech Bridge Director Diana Teel. Admiral […]

Luminar Technologies Inc. is scaling its local manufacturing in preparation for when its sensors will start appearing on self-driving Volvos in 2022. The Orlando-based tech unicorn since last year has been relocating its operations from Research Parkway in Orlando to its other existing facility on Discovery Drive, the firm told Orlando Business Journal. This move enables Luminar […]

SkyWater Technologies Inc. has started on its plans to bring more than 200 jobs to Central Florida. The Bloomington, Minnesota-based semiconductor foundry is posting Central Florida job openings, with 12 listed on the website. These jobs will be based in the Center for Neovation in Osceola County’s NeoCity, where SkyWater took over the lease from the […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/05/pandemic-pivot-will-lead-to-new-jobs-at-esports-st.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=or&ana=&j=23143817 Five years ago was the first time Johnny Williams, a former college football player at the University of Kentucky, heard about college scholarships for esports players. That jumpstarted Williams’ interest in the esports world and led him to found Player Epic Inc. last year. The Orlando-based startup will tap into the booming esports arena, where […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/02/spacex-valuation-rockets-with-new-funding.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=or&ana=&j=23091955 Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has raised another astronomical sum, rocketing the busy aerospace company’s valuation to new heights. The Hawthorne, California-based company — which frequently launches from Florida’s Space Coast — closed $850 million in equity funding last month, reported CNBC, citing anonymous sources “familiar with the financing.” Shares were sold at $419.99, per the […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/02/new-orlando-tech-entrepreneurship-programs-to-laun.html?ana=e_orl_bn_editorschoice_editorschoice&j=90552430&t=Breaking%20News&mkt_tok=NjczLVVXWS0yMjkAAAF7k0cmlRn12HStdMxcB8ZK4CDj84cihLJciteWk2LOr4QI4dRvKzU_RDxcpTMQxx4h4RHDY6BovIWwdJIx5DhwZwyODWUdlIvH4I6n7d-oh2AnDN4 Local groups will grow and launch tech entrepreneurship programs after Orange County designated a chunk of cash for the purpose. County commissioners on Feb. 23 approved a $1.95 million economic stimulus grant meant to help diversify the region’s tourism-centric economy. This money will fund tech and entrepreneurship initiatives at the University of Central Florida, […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/25/2021-businesswoman-of-the-year-beverly-seay.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=or&ana=&j=23054068 The last year has been fraught with challenges for Beverly Seay — and only some of it was related to Covid-19. As chair of the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, she led the entity responsible for administering the state’s largest university’s policy decisions; the implementation and maintenance of high-quality education programs; and […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/24/electric-battery-maker-microvast-plans-orlando-r-d.html?ana=e_orl_bn_exclusive_exclusive&j=90551840&t=Breaking%20News&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWkRsbFlXSTNORGcwTnpGbSIsInQiOiJCQTlTR3pUMlZmTWoweFFYbTc3Q1VmdThkWXU1Mm83ZStxcjh6YUVmV2QwS29Fa2tJeDlIZVk0ZTVuMnhFYzV2dG9raEJtXC9nc0FEVjJIWiszT24xWWRLcEduVlBzTndGXC8rZDlnZ0ZWcjhPZE5zRkFUWnluUzRiVlNGalwvWVNZdSJ9 A manufacturer of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles will charge up its operations in Central Florida, creating tech jobs in the process. Microvast Inc. plans to turn its small presence in the University of Central Florida incubator program into an Orlando research and development facility that would house up to 150 employees. The […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/23/lockheed-snags-huge-air-force-deals-for-missile-wo.html A pair of missile contracts will launch new local work for Lockheed Martin Corp. The U.S. Air Force awarded two contracts worth a combined $842 million to Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT), announced the Department of Defense on Feb. 22. Both will create work for Lockheed in Orlando, where the Bethesda, Maryland-based defense giant […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/22/investors-leaving-california-create-opportunity-fo.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=me&utm_content=or&ana=&j=23031289 California venture capitalists are flocking to cheaper Sunbelt cities, and many want Orlando to get in on the action. The Bay Area is hemorrhaging residents, losing 45,000 people in 2020 per a report by real estate brokerage Redfin Corp. Among those leaving the high-tax, high-cost metro are the investors who make Silicon Valley the […]

The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Ind., has awarded Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (RTX), a seven-year, $64 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide sonar domes for surface combat ships for the U.S Navy and Allied forces. The agreement, which builds upon a previous five-year production contract, includes […]

The University of Central Florida is preparing to launch a new program that will be among the first for a public university. UCF will start its two-year master’s degree program in themed experiences this fall. It will teach the design of environments to tell a story in places such as theme parks, zoos, aquariums, themed […]

Leasecake Inc. has closed a $3 million investment round that will expand its commercial real estate software, the company announced Feb. 16. The Winter Park-based firm was founded in 2017 at entrepreneurship competition Startup Weekend Orlando as a property management platform. Leasecake since has expanded to offer “location management” software, which allows businesses to manage services related […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/12/ucf-tech-firm-and-vc-fund-launch-central-florida.html?ana=e_orl_bn_editorschoice_editorschoice&j=90550511&t=Breaking%20News&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT1RoaU5HUmxZelprWkdJMyIsInQiOiJWTGVnWEY5VkxOVWdiaEFTbTJYTW42dU9UK3lITzJ5ZEFYZUlHdHo1MzVDandRd2dIYkxQdVM1bkx2c2lVZW5XRWRjTlg1Z0FCd3JoUU5USlI2TCtqZ1pjbTM5U0dLSURTVU5sc3pZU3p3WnJ4WFhDck1jNUVNbnFRaWpodHc1RCJ9 Central Florida blockchain businesses will have more opportunities to grow thanks to a new nonprofit lab that has millions of dollars in venture capital behind it. The launch of the Blockchain Innovation Lab was announced Feb. 12 by the lab’s three Central Florida organizers: the University of Central Florida, business development firm Neoware Studios […]

Tony McGee, CEO, HNM Global Logistics  “I would say the obvious as it relates to opportunities is our hidden gem, Research Park. With [U.S. Army simulation center] PEO STRI over there, you have $3.5 billion in contracts coming out of that small geographic area. We would like to increase our opportunities with the federal government. […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/10/business-accelerator-burnout-to-triple-its-video-g.html?ana=e_orl_bn_editorschoice_editorschoice&j=90550116&t=Breaking%20News&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTVRRMk16ZGlNRGd4TVRJeiIsInQiOiJuYU1wck5QcU9FWVdpODJud2pXRnhPb0NpNDZLbUw3XC9lUG9maVlIUjhhcFREVEZ5bnBjTHRBTWR0SWpJZ0N3dEM5MHo3NTZzbUdhVWx0RXkyQlRCSlJ2RTBRc2VkekZFMWd3RVJ1RHVoQm9SaXpoZFJvUlYzNEdnK09zR3RMZ1UifQ%3D%3D Burnout Game Ventures LLC doubled its projects in 2020, and it aims to triple that number this year. The Winter Park-based video game accelerator hit a growth spurt in 2020, adding 50 members and four staff employees. Burnout already has added another 25 people this year, with expectations to add a hundred in the […]

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/02/02/ea-sports-to-revive-college-football-video-games.html?ana=e_me_set1&j=90549004&t=Morning&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTmpVMk16aGxaR0V4T0RReSIsInQiOiJBNlRwXC9ZUzRXdmZwUys4dFN4a1IwaGJNZVY5S2ppeG1iaHB4V2NSTk5wU05TdVQ1OFc0MHVpSWlyNDV2SERKbUFpd2UrMlhBRnVPdlhSY09HelN1Ym5XMlYzbVJLZktCY202MlRORmMzSEpsOEhyQ3VMN2pvanNWaHF0NjA5dTEifQ%3D%3D Gaming is a massive industry that spawns high-wage jobs. The U.S. video game industry in 2019 generated $90.3 billion in economic output and supported 429,000 jobs, including 16,270 jobs in Florida, according to the Entertainment Software Association.