The Florida-Israel Bus. Accelerator Announces Agreement with the United States Special Operations Command to Collaborate on N...
August 28 2016 - 12:00AM
Business Wire
Tampa-based technology accelerator will lend expertise to
enhance SOCOM’s operational capabilities
The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) proudly announces
that they have entered into an agreement with the United States
Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to collaborate on the production
of innovative technologies. The Cooperative Research &
Development Agreement (CRADA) establishes a partnership between the
two organizations in which FIBA cohorts will produce products or
services that will fill technology capability shortfalls for
SOCOM.
“We are excited to establish a partnership with such a dynamic
organization,” said Dr. Vicki Rabenou, President and CEO of the
Florida-Israel Business Accelerator. “Many Israeli startups have
been founded by entrepreneurs with military backgrounds. To be able
to work with SOCOM will be a tremendous draw for them and to create
innovations with such a profound impact is even more
appealing.”
SOCOM spends over $3 billion a year on procurement, including an
R&D budget of $538 million in 2016. SOCOM’s small size and
independent budgetary authority (headquartered in Tampa, Florida)
gives the agency both flexibility and an advantage over the rest of
the US armed service branches in technology acquisition.
As part of the CRADA, members of FIBA cohorts will have the
opportunity to develop innovative technologies, materials,
components, material combinations, software, modeling, simulations,
and systems for the Science and Technology Directorate at the
Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Center (SOF AT&L-ST). This group within SOCOM is charged with
the task of conducting research, development, testing and
evaluation activities through the execution of applied research and
advanced technology development efforts. The innovations that FIBA
cohorts will present to SOCOM will be in the areas of medical
technologies, biometrics, mobility, cyber-security, remote sensor
power and energy among other areas. FIBA cohorts will also have the
potential to receive information, feedback, data sets, the use of
government-furnished equipment, including software, when agreed to
enable their ability to support SOCOM technology needs through
research and development.
About The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator
Launched in 2016 by the Tampa Jewish Community Centers &
Federation, the Florida Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) is a
Florida-based technology accelerator, designed to establish and
grow successful, high-growth Israeli tech ventures in the Tampa Bay
area. Our primary goal is to help best in breed Israeli hi-tech
start-up companies scale and reach their full growth potential in
the USA. The Florida-Israel Business Accelerator is designed to
meet the needs of both seed and early stage companies, The
Florida-Israel Business Accelerator provides deep industry
expertise through structured programming, one-on-one consulting
sessions, curated access to an expanded group of industry experts
and exposure to a syndicate of potential investors. FIBA is
sponsored by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
To learn more, visit our website at www.fiba.io.
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The Florida-Israel Business AcceleratorJack Ross,
813-769-4727jack.ross@jewishtampa.com