Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and space executives are in Europe this week to drum up high-tech and aerospace business for the state.
Carroll and Space Florida President Frank DiBello will meet with members of the British Parliament on Monday to discuss future scientific ventures. Agenda items include formalizing Memorandums of Understanding to enhance partnerships in small satellite development, agricultural biotech and genetics, and health research for the elderly.
The Florida delegation -- which includes Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Janet Petro and L2 Aerospace CEO and space industry adviser and retired Gen. Lance Lord -- hopes to build on an agreement with the UK Trade & Investment Group, which funded planned construction of hydrogen storage facilities at KSC by Cella Energy.
The UK-based Cella recently established U.S. subsidiaries and will be moving a yet-to-be-determined number of employees to Florida within several months.
Carroll and DiBello will also meet with representatives of Astrium and ADS Group Ltd., the trade organization responsible for advancing Britain's aerospace, defense and security industries.
ADS encompasses the British Aviation Group and also claims Farnborough International Unlimited (organizer of the Farnborough International Air Show) as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Through Wednesday, the Florida delegation will participate in a symposium at the Royal Aeronautical Society and tours of Rutherford Appleton Laboratories and the International Space Innovation Centre.
On Thursday and Friday, the Florida team will travel to Spain to meet with INTA, the Spanish public research organization specializing in aerospace research and technology development. It is anticipated that an MOU will be signed between Florida and INTA during this visit.
Carroll also is expected to formalize an MOU with the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for a broader relationship in research on aging and agricultural biotech.
International trade and cooperation is key to growing Floridas economy and creating good, high-wage jobs, said Carroll, who chairs the Space Florida Board.
Specifically, DiBello said, International aerospace-related markets hold great potential for growth in Florida."
Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida, said, "The transition from government-driven projects to private-sector enterprise has to happen" on the Space Coast and elsewhere across the state.
Snaith noted that the jobs being recruited by the Florida delegation "are intended to catalyze that transformation."
"It's not just a shot in the dark. Some interaction is already taking place, and this [trip] is designed to speed up and augment those relationships."
Pointing out that Florida landed Brazilian jet-maker Embraer, which is now assembling Phenom 100 light jets at Melbourne International Airport, Snaith said, "We can't move fast enough in transitioning from the end of the shuttle to this new era."
"We don't want our talent scattering to some other state or country."
Contact KenricWard at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
