Why Metro Orlando?

Metro Orlando provides numerous benefits for photonics start-ups, as well as established companies seeking to expand within or relocate to a locale that actively promotes their growth and success. Strengthened by premier educational and research facilities founded in the region, the photonics industry is able to take advantage of technology innovations, a diverse talent pool and essential support organizations.

• Marketplace: Metro Orlando is home to over 95 photonics companies generating a gross regional product at more than $2 billion. From proprietary laser diodes to optoelectronic packaging technology, the depth and range of the region’s photonics companies is robust and supports a host of additional service and support companies throughout the region.

• Workforce: One of the most-cited qualities of Metro Orlando is its workforce. The region offers a large selection of motivated, highly skilled employees who are well versed in their field. The employee pool is further strengthened by the superior photonics educational resources provided in Metro Orlando.

• Education: Photonics companies benefit from the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics, which is one of only three independent optics academic departments in the country. The school’s research arm, the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), is one of only three Centers of Excellence in the nation.

• Industry Organizations and Involvement: Metro Orlando encourages an environment that rewards collaboration between industry, academia and government. In addition, the region is home to the Florida Photonics Cluster, an organization formed specifically to raise public and private awareness of the photonics industry and the contributions it makes to the local community.

• Incentives: The state of Florida offers semiconductor, defense and space technology businesses an exemption of sales and use taxes that would otherwise be paid on machinery and equipment used in production, research and development. The Metro Orlando community is also committed to advancing the growth of high tech industry in the region. To that end, there are a number of opportunities for grant funding and other financial incentives available to attract new high tech businesses to Metro Orlando and to enhance existing organizations.