{"id":147084,"date":"2025-06-17T09:00:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=147084"},"modified":"2025-07-02T11:37:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:37:38","slug":"ucf-talent-fuels-orlandos-rise-as-a-tech-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-talent-fuels-orlandos-rise-as-a-tech-hub\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Talent Fuels Orlando\u2019s Rise as a Tech Hub"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the years UCF\u2019s academic work in the tech field has earned national recognition, with the university producing 25% of engineering and computer science graduates in Florida. This future-focused momentum is helping to advance Orlando\u2019s tech hub, which ranks as the second-fastest-growing in the South, according to CommercialCafe.Florida\u2019s Orlando metro area \u2014 including Sanford and Kissimmee \u2014 also ranks 20th overall and 16th for quality of life, according to CommercialCafe, driven by high educational attainment and low unemployment.<\/p>\n

A Leader in Simulation<\/h2>\n

The study noted Orlando\u2019s strength in the simulation<\/a> technology field and the robust talent pipeline from UCF. The Institute for Simulation and Training, based at UCF and partnering with government and industry for more than 40 years, boasts a statewide economic impact of $11.6 billion. Within the College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/a>, UCF\u2019s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training has awarded more than 550 graduate degrees since its founding in 2018, advancing both research and workforce development in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt UCF \u2014 and especially within the Institute for Simulation and Training \u2014 we have a long-standing commitment to cutting-edge research at the intersection of humans and technology, particularly through simulation and training,\u201d Agere Chair Professor in Computer Science Carolina Cruz-Neira says. \u201cOur integration of advanced research with academic programs has become a cornerstone of Central Florida\u2019s simulation ecosystem. We produce a strong talent pipeline, graduating thousands of well-trained professionals each year, from undergraduate to highly specialized graduate degrees, many developed in close collaboration with industry and government.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university\u2019s impact in the simulation sector also includes startups developed through UCF\u2019s Business Incubation Program<\/a>, which has supported more than 1,000 companies in the region over the past 25 years. One of the most recent simulation-based businesses includes ZuLeris Interactive<\/a>, a Knight-founded startup that develops virtual training for the defense industry.<\/p>\n

Developing Game Design<\/h2>\n

Orlando has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions for video game development \u2014 part of an industry that generated nearly $455 billion in global revenue last year. UCF is contributing to the industry through talent educated in the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), UCF\u2019s graduate game design program located at UCF Downtown and surrounded by major companies. FIEA has ranked No. 1 in the world<\/a> for four of the last five years, and the undergraduate games and interactive media<\/a> program holds the No. 5 spot globally.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost great and growing cities have university presences in their downtown,\u201d says Ben Noel, executive director of FIEA. \u201cIn terms of FIEA and UCF Downtown, we are a short walking [distance] to thousands of developers and dozens of video game and simulation companies. The UCF Downtown campus investment near Creative Village, as well as FIEA\u2019s reputation in the video game industry, have provided proven results.\u201d<\/p>\n