The world of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a technical one. Its endeavors involve aviation, aerospace, research and engineering.

Recently these efforts have expanded to include medical technologies. University officials travel the globe to collaborate with partners in search of new opportunities. Now, armed with a portfolio teeming with relationships and technical assignments, the university wants to bring some of its high-flying work home to a proposed research and technology park in Volusia County.

ERAU is in a unique position to do so, as the world's largest accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace. The university educates more than 25,000 students annually through the master's degree level at campuses in Daytona Beach and Arizona and at more than 130 teaching centers in the United States and Europe, and through its distance learning programs.

"We see tremendous economic development potential in a technology park in Florida," said Irwin Price, Chancellor of ERAU. "With the university's partnerships and global contacts, and as active participants in local economic development, we are compelled to create a park where technology can flourish and Volusia County can participate more fully in its evolution. The intellectual infrastructure already exists here. What we are talking about is a complex that will attract more research and technology companies to the area."

A metal replica of the Wright Brothers' historic airplane welcomes visitors and students
at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The university has relationships with dozens of companies, governments and organizations, including NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, Boeing, McDonnell Douglass, Cessna, Leer and many others. Its research and technology assignments include everything from development of pilotless computer-guided drone aircraft used for surveillance to aviation physiology and the effect of extreme flight conditions on the human body.

Recently, the growing capabilities of the university have led to a new collaboration with Volusia County, the City of Daytona Beach, Volusia County Schools, and others for the development of a research and technology park along Clyde Morris Boulevard, south of the university's Daytona Beach campus and adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport. At the center of this new dialogue is the proposed development of more than 140 acres for high technology, research and development and manufacturing.

"Our strategic plan calls for encouraging research and technology and identifies Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as an important resource in making this happen," said Rick Michael, Volusia County Department of Economic Development Director. "We are committed to participating in the technology revolution and this is another way we can do so. When one considers the university's role in the advancement of aviation and aerospace, it is evident that its contacts and our economic development resources can make this project a reality."

While the research and technology park is consistent with the county's strategic plan for economic development, it also is critical to the work plan  of Enterprise Florida, the statewide economic development authority. It is also at the heart of the mission of Central Florida's High Tech Corridor, which is dedicated to advancing this kind of business activity throughout Central Florida, beginning in Daytona Beach and stretching along Interstate 4 to Tampa Bay. All agree the benefits go well beyond academia and technology-driven companies themselves.

Dennis McGee, Director of Aviation at Daytona Beach International Airport, is enthusiastic about the concept of a research and technology park in the community. "Aside from the implied benefits to the business community and the economy, a successful park populated with engineers and researchers will increase demand for business travel and could boost efforts to attract more airlines to DBIA," he said. "This would support the business traveler and would add to the efficiency and convenience of the leisure travelers visiting our area as well as our residents."

From the City of Daytona Beach perspective, the proposal has great potential. "Any time we can promote Daytona Beach as a preferred business address, we are eager to do it," said Richard Quigley, Daytona Beach City Manager. "Our community is well established in the tourism industry, thanks to our beaches and our tourism officials. We also are known as the World Center of Racing, thanks to Daytona International Speedway and the events orchestrated by International Speedway Corporation and NASCAR. Our colleges and universities can open many new doors for us. Embry-Riddle's research and technology park holds great potential for our city and we encourage its development."

The Volusia County School District also has a stake in the new project. It recently collaborated with its Flagler County counterpart, Daytona Beach Community College and the business community to create the Advanced Technology Center, as an educational resource supporting technology. The school district also offers the acclaimed International Baccalaureate Program. Within area high schools, the school district also maintains various academies offering concentrated coursework in technology-driven areas of study, such as aviation and aerospace.

"From an academic perspective, having a research and technology park in the community underscores our commitment to these disciplines of study," said Dr. Chris Colwell, Superintendent of Curriculum for Volusia County Schools. "As demand for a workforce trained in technology increases, we sharpen our focus on academic resources in those disciplines."

On the logistical side of the equation, the school district owns 16 acres being considered as a site for the new park. The land houses the school district's bus terminal. Moving the facility to another site raises challenges relative to the demanding operations of a school district serving some 64,000 students in schools situated throughout a 1,200-square-mile area. "We embrace the idea of a research and technology park for its positive influence on academic study," said Bill Hall, superintendent of Volusia County Schools.

"At the same time, the movement of students is a complex task and our bus terminal is important in that process. Finding a new and ready site for our terminal is a prerequisite to vacating the land for the research and tech park. Just the same, we believe such a park holds great potential and we are very supportive of efforts to make it a reality."

The real estate question is a daunting one. "We are addressing this concern with the help of real estate professionals," said ERAU's Dr. Price. "They have the expertise and the broad view of real estate in the area to advise us on the practicality of such a project as well as finding creative options in getting the right site. With the level of support the project seems to have, we are optimistic."

It appears the project has support on many fronts, logistics notwithstanding. With these commitments and a vision that serves the needs of business, industry and the community, it is possible the proposed research and technology park will become the starting point of Central Florida's High Tech Corridor.