Digimation, a provider of 3D content and related services to the entertainment and defense industries, will relocate their headquarters from St. Rose, Louisiana to Metro Orlando.

The company's headquarters location will result in 30 new jobs; will generate $750,000 in capital investment; and will lease over 4,000 square feet of space on International Parkway in Heathrow/Lake Mary.

Digimation's first two new hires are already operating here and the team will complete their relocation to Metro Orlando in March 2009.

In a new study by the Pew Research Center, Orlando ranks as the 4th most popular city where people want to live.

Robots - no longer as futuristic as they once seemed - can take many forms, some quite different than the traditional image the word conjures up. And the future of robotics, from healthcare to warfare, is evolving in Metro Orlando's hospitals, companies, military research commands and laboratories.

In fact, it's in the medical field where robots are making some of the biggest advances.

At the Global Robotics Institute at Celebration Health, part of the Florida Hospital network, Dr. Vipul Patel, the world's leading robotic surgeon, utilizes the da Vinci robot to perform minimally-invasive surgeries. In addition, at the Global Robotics Institute, Dr. Patel trains surgeons around the world.

Orlando Health was one of the first medical centers in Florida to have the "Dr. Robot" technology. This robot, formally known as the RP-7, is a nearly human-shaped robot that consists of a video monitor for a face, digital cameras for eyes and microphones for two-way communication. "Dr. Robot" makes it possible for a doctor at a remote location to talk with the patient without actually being there.

And research is underway at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Because robotics is a diverse field that incorporates many different aspects of science and technology, students from a variety of study disciplines gather in the Robotics Laboratory at UCF to conduct research on ground, underwater, surface and aerial vehicles.

For more about Orlando's future in robotics, click here.

In the last few years, there has been a multitude of recalls of products, foods and medicines. But there are steps in place that are supposed to make sure this doesn't happen, and that the product, whether food or medicine, does what it is supposed to do. One Central Florida company is making this happen for drug manufacturers.

Amaro & Associates, Inc. (dba Comply Shield), a biopharmaceutical technology consulting firm delivers quality assurance testing and validation, quality IT business processes and performance testing to ensure pharmaceutical manufacturing systems function properly through the development of its Total Validation Management (TVM) system.

In a period of stronger pushes toward FDA regulation, this system consolidates multiple processes into one efficient program. The client is then able to create testable requirements, test plans, test scenarios and summary documents, which are not only less confusing but are accurate and complete.

Watch Jorge Amaro, president of Amaro & Associates, explain his company.

Nearly 700 venture capital deals have closed in the State of Florida since 2000, resulting in more than $6.4 billion in total venture capital spending. A new state program hopes to accomplish more of the same. To help lure tech investment to Florida, the State of Florida has created the Florida Opportunity Fund, a multimillion-dollar program that directs investments to high-performing funds committed to seed and early stage businesses. This program seeks to realize significant long-term returns from funds making investments in early stage Florida opportunities.

The Florida Opportunity Fund is a fund of funds established by Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development arm, and managed by Florida First Partners (FFP). The program is designed to build upon investment activities of leading national venture capital investors, such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Benchmark Capital and Sycamore Ventures. These firms provide capital to companies focused on developing advanced technologies like surgical robotics design, business intelligence software, defense and aerospace applications, and green methods to create new products out of recyclables.

The first series of applications from state, regional and national venture capital firms to be considered for funds from the program will be accepted through January 30, 2009. Interested participants from the venture capital community should visit www.floridaopportunityfund.com.

Flying Delta in January? Be sure to pick up a copy of Delta-Sky magazine, which includes an 18-page section - titled "Portrait: Orlando" - that calls the region "A Can-Do Kind of Place" and features Metro Orlando's diverse industries, neighborhoods and people. In February, Delta passengers will get yet another perspective on our community, as that issue will include a second Orlando profile, this time focused on our world famous tourist attractions and eclectic arts offerings.

The two part feature, the first in Sky's publishing history, is the result of a partnership between the Metro Orlando EDC, Orlando Regional Realtor Association and Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Sky reaches an estimated 9 million passengers each month on flights worldwide. Notably, the January issue will be on-board as fans travel to Tampa for the Super Bowl at the end of this month, and the February issue will be found as they depart after the game.

Metro Orlando is increasingly recognized as a great location for growing businesses and entrepreneurs...and a new online resource is now available to assist start up and expanding companies located in the region.

The Virtual Entrepreneur Center is a one-stop web portal maintained by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, in partnership with the Metro Orlando EDC and other local economic development organizations. The user-friendly and comprehensive site catalogs local, regional, state and global resources for starting and growing a business. Users can find information ranging from developing a business plan and addressing legal and tax issues to handling challenges related to growth and evaluating a variety of technology options.

The EDC worked with Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Web site developers at Daytona Beach Community College to provide contact links and other resource information from the counties and cities within our four county region. The Disney Entrepreneur Center, a national program located in downtown Orlando, is also a supporter of this entrepreneurial project.