Florida’s Business Climate of Innovation
From the first PC to space exploration, Florida companies have been innovating beyond impossible for decades. That same pioneering spirit continues today across industries like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and more.
Florida’s business climate provides an innovative ecosystem of forward-thinking business leaders, entrepreneurs, ideas and success. Florida businesses invent new technologies and disruptive innovations every day, thanks to our world-class higher education system, infrastructure and business-friendly environment.
Discover how Florida businesses ideate and innovate.
Brain Power
From the Panhandle to the Keys, the State University System (SUS) of Florida provides high-quality academic programming. SUS's 12 institutions ensure that the smartest talent pipeline in the country flows from the state of Florida.
Best State for Business Innovation
Ranked the number two state in the country for entrepreneurs by SimplifyLLC, Florida’s pro-business environment also fosters innovation. Home to some of the most helpful energy incentives in the country, Florida companies also benefit from low taxes so they can spend more on improving their business.
The Sunshine State’s 5.5% corporate income tax and zero personal income tax grant inventors and small business owners alike a unique competitive advantage in the Southeast United States and the world. Your business might also benefit from tax exemptions and property tax rates that are lower than the national average.
Decades of firsts, from the first commercial flight in Tampa in 1912 to the first PC in Boca Raton in 1981, mark Florida’s innovative business climate. Today, global leaders in aerospace, defense, cybersecurity and more are creating tomorrow’s technology in Florida.
A Network of Support
Tech leaders can easily connect with their peers in Florida thanks to international events like eMerge Americas and Synapse.
A Model State
Home to the National Center for Simulation (NCS), Florida is the global leader in Modeling, Simulation & Training. From Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality to battlefield and flight training, it's in development here.
Artificially Intelligent
Researchers at the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Pensacola pioneer technologies aimed at generating ideas that extend human capabilities.
Additional Resources
Florida Colleges
The Florida College System is the primary access point to higher education for Floridians, including recent high school graduates and returning adult students. From Pensacola to Orlando to Fort Myers, this stellar education system fuels Florida’s economy and long-term job growth.
eMerge Americas
eMerge Americas is working to shape the future of tech by partnering with the entire tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem, from government to higher-ed, startups to investors, corporate enterprises to media.
The Florida High Tech Corridor
Three of the country’s largest research institutions anchor the 23-county region that defines The Corridor. These include the UCF, USF and UF. The state's talented and educated workforce can help drive business for companies in a range of industries. The Corridor allows for unique access to the latest in R&D and innovative ideas.
35 Mules
Powered by FPL, a NextEra Energy company, 35 Mules provides early-stage startups with cross-industry subject-matter expertise, advanced technology solutions, business services, world-class facilities and access to Fortune 200 corporate and technology leaders.
How Can Florida Business Innovation Help My Business?
Our team of economic development experts is here to help! Whether it is problem-solving, brainstorming solutions or connecting you with partnerships in the innovative process. We are here to help put the pieces of doing business in Florida together.