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FLORIDA INDUSTRY CLUSTERS | Florida's leading industry clusters play a key role in the state's continued economic success and competitiveness. Innovative organizations in key Florida industries, such as life sciences and aerospace, find the nurturing environment here for developing state-of-the-art technologies, while sophisticated financial and professional services firms prosper thanks to Florida's skillful workforce and the state's business-friendly environment. Such conditions have been critical to Florida's success in building science, technology and professional industry clusters and to preserving the state's status as a key player in the Innovation Economy. Florida's strengths lie in the following key sectors. |
|  Florida is a natural contender in the fast-growing clean technologies (cleantech) industry with rich natural resources, diverse R&D assets and focus on commercialization. All around Florida, major cleantech projects are creating thousands of jobs in clean energy generation, energy efficient products, green buildings, water and bioremediation technologies and other areas. Learn More. |
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|  After years of aggressive, coordinated effort, Florida has firmly established itself as a true hub for the life sciences. Today, Florida is home to some of the nation's most highly regarded research centers; nearly 1,000 biotech, pharmaceutical and medical devices companies; and a foundation of more 44,000 healthcare establishments. Learn More. |
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|  Florida has remained at the forefront of information technology innovation since the birth of the IBM PC in Boca Raton. The state's IT strengths include diverse sectors such as digital media, modeling, simulation & training, photonics/optics and mobile technologies. Some 25,000 information technology companies employ nearly 245,000 people in Florida. Learn More. |
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|  Florida ranks 2nd among states for aviation, aerospace, and space establishments, with more than 2,000 aviation and aerospace companies employing over 87,000 workers. Florida's industry leadership is driven and supported by the presence of virtually every major defense contractor, a 50 year legacy of space launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Florida's many U.S. military installations, its incredible air transport infrastructure, and its high quality workforce. Learn More. |
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|  Nearly every major global logistics integrator already has a presence in Florida, including the headquarters for Ryder System, Inc., Landstar System Inc., CEVA Logistics U.S., Inc. and other top logistics companies. As the Western Hemisphere's commercial gateway, Florida's logistics & distribution industry is poised to grow further with the Panama Canal expansion in 2014 and the numerous infrastructure developments and upgrades underway around the state. Learn More. |
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|  The defense and homeland security industry is comprised of innovative companies pursuing the development of products and solutions to protect civilian populations from terrorist attacks and other security threats. Florida's high tech economy and workforce make Florida a great location for homeland security businesses looking for workers with the expertise needed to compete in this rapidly evolving industry. Learn More. |
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|  Nearly 90% of Florida's gross economic output is generated in the service sector. Florida's more than 122,000 Financial and Professional Services companies employ nearly 850,000 workers at locations around the state. The state's diversified economic structure has enabled it to be a global player in the provision of high value-added services, such as Financial Services (banking, insurance) and Professional Services (engineering, legal, accounting, consulting). Learn More. |
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| STRATEGIC AREAS OF EMPHASIS | | Manufacturing | | Florida manufacturers are a powerful economic engine for the state's economy. Many Florida manufacturing operations benefit from the presence of advanced research facilities at Florida's universities and colleges, military installations, and NASA.The industry cluster counts nearly 18,000 manufacturers who employ some 311,300 workers across the state. Learn More | | Corporate Headquarters | | Another area important to the state economy is the establishment of corporate headquarters in Florida. Corporate headquarters is defined as those facilities that support international, national or regional (multi-state) operations for relatively mature companies with distributed operations and centralized strategic and management activities. In Florida, Corporate Headquarters has been designated as a High Impact Business Sector, eligible for certain incentives. See some of the largest public and private companies headquartered in Florida. Learn More. | | Emerging Technologies | | Florida is fostering the growth of exciting new fields that are likely to bring about breakthroughs in the way we design products, develop new medicines, and lead our daily lives. Emerging fields such as materials science, nanotechnology and marine science are growing in Florida from research at the micro- and nano-levels at Florida R&D centers and university labs, as well as at many high tech entrepreneurial firms. Learn More |
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