Their determined pursuit of excellence and transformation of knowledge into breakthroughs have catapulted �鶹ӳ����ý to become Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent University.

President Alexander N. Cartwright announced Monday that �鶹ӳ����ý has reached the 12 metrics required to earn the designation of Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors. Qualifying for the state’s highest designation highlights �鶹ӳ����ý’s achievements in student success, research and more — and the talents and hard work of so many in the �鶹ӳ����ý community who made this happen.

“From the very beginning, �鶹ӳ����ý has been a university that defies expectations, turning scrubland into a next-generation university built for discovery, innovation and opportunity,” President Cartwright says. “Reaching the 12 metrics necessary for Florida’s Preeminent State Research University designation reflects the grit and ambition of our students, faculty, and staff, and the power of this community to dream bigger and achieve more. Preeminence is not an arrival point but a launchpad for an even bolder future.”

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment, and one that reflects the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and leadership team — with this Board’s unwavering support,” says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins ’01MBA. “It is a milestone that belongs to the entire �鶹ӳ����ý community, and I am proud we have reached this point together.”

A Community Dedicated to Student Success

�鶹ӳ����ý adopted a new model of student success support in 2023 with academic success coaches. Each student is paired with a success coach who works one-on-one with them, helping them develop their academic and career goals, and guiding them on the path to success. Success coaches help remove barriers for students and empower them to thrive on campus and beyond.

When DirectConnect to �鶹ӳ����ý student Hayley Ellis transferred from Daytona State College, she had to adjust to a much larger school in a new city. Mostly homeschooled growing up, Ellis is an aspiring pathologist double majoring in health sciences, and molecular and cellular biology.

Just as she began feeling overwhelmed in Organic Chemistry, senior academic success coach Christian Viau reached out to champion her success.

“When I got [Christian’s] email, I was like, ‘Someone here wants me to succeed and help me map out my classes,’ ” Ellis says. “That was a huge relief. It felt good to have someone there for me.”

“I think providing [a] support system from inside the institution is vital. As a success coach, that’s a driving factor for me — because in my undergrad, I would’ve loved to have someone I could lean on.” — Christian Viau, senior academic success coach

Since then, they’ve met several times to build a manageable academic schedule and discuss how to get involved and connect with Knights across campus.

Every student Viau works with receives individualized support. That includes Ellis, whom he knew needed extra help due to the unique challenges double majors face. Now approaching graduation, she’s stayed on track to finish in four years.

Thanks to the efforts of Viau and dozens of other academic success coaches across campus, along with caring faculty members who mentor students, and many other people, �鶹ӳ����ý has increased our four-year graduation rate to 63.8%, which is up 14 percentage points in four years.

Another example of efforts that have greatly benefited students is in the College of Arts and Humanities, where faculty in writing and rhetoric are strengthening student success in first-year composition courses. Shane Wood, associate professor and director of first-year composition and Professor Sherry Rankins-Robertson facilitated a progress report initiative that identifies at-risk students early in Composition I and II courses. Students are then connected to support and resources to help them succeed in these subjects, which nearly every �鶹ӳ����ý student takes, and which directly affect key preeminence metrics like freshman retention and four-year graduation rates.

“Serving more than 6,500 students a year, success in these [composition] courses plays a pivotal role in helping students persevere at �鶹ӳ����ý and ultimately graduate.” — Shane Wood, associate professor

What began as a small pilot program with about 10% faculty participation has grown to be embraced by nearly 90% of instructors today. That shift has contributed to a remarkable 96% persistence rate, which measures percentage of students who continue, in composition courses — helping bolster student success across the university.

“Serving more than 6,500 students a year, success in these courses plays a pivotal role in helping students persevere at �鶹ӳ����ý and ultimately graduate,” Wood says.

Rankins-Robertson says the initiative also reflects the dedication of faculty who support students from their very first semester.

“We’re trying to make students feel like they belong here, and when they feel supported, they’re more likely to continue,” Rankins-Robertson says. “Preeminence, to me, highlights the dedication of our faculty and the intentional ways they approach the classroom in order to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives.”

From Ingenuity to Impact: Boosting Research Funding and Technology Transfer

�鶹ӳ����ý’s world-class faculty are bold innovators who drive over $285 million in annual research expenditures across fields like space exploration, engineering, optics and photonics, modeling and simulation, healthcare, cybersecurity and more. Their work has helped �鶹ӳ����ý become a National Academy of Inventors top 20 public university for patents in the U.S. — and meet preeminence metrics.

“When the Office of Technology Transfer showcases �鶹ӳ����ý innovations, we not only generate interest in licensing intellectual property, but also create pathways for industry partnerships that extend far beyond licensing alone.”  — Svetlana Shtrom ’08MBA, director of Technology Transfer

The Office of Technology Transfer, which oversees the filing and issuance of patents, is part of the university’s Economic Development and Innovation division within the Office of Research. Technology Transfer plays an integral role in overseeing research commercialization, strengthening industry relationships and facilitating formation of new startup companies. Supporting the efforts of the Technology Transfer team are a host of  other Office of Research staff who submit proposals, process funding awards and much more.

“�鶹ӳ����ý’s Office of Technology Transfer is dedicated to serving the university research community by identifying innovative research that has commercial potential and attracts interest from industry partners, entrepreneurs, and investors with the goal of bringing promising research results to the market for the betterment of society,” says Svetlana Shtrom ’08MBA, director of Technology Transfer.

Being a strong producer of patents enhances �鶹ӳ����ý’s national prominence, attracting more talented students and researchers who further fuel the cycle of innovation.

“We are committed to supporting researchers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders in turning ideas into impact,” says Raju Nagaiah, Technology Transfer’s assistant director of licensing. “We are passionateabout our work — we love science and technology, and get very excited when we learn about new inventions and the opportunity to improve people’s lives through innovation.”

Companies frequently approach the Technology Transfer to explore available technologies, and this often leads to deeper research collaborations and more funding opportunities for faculty, Shtrom says.

Driving Student Achievement and Innovation

Preeminence also acknowledges the many ways that students excel in the classroom and transform ideas into impact.

Zackary Zuniga, a dual major undergraduate student studying photonics science and engineering, and electrical engineering, founded ZuLeris Interactive in 2023 after taking �鶹ӳ����ý’s Entrepreneurship for Defense course. The company, now part of the �鶹ӳ����ý Business Incubation Program, creates immersive simulations for electromagnetic defense training.

“At �鶹ӳ����ý, I found a community that supported me every step of the way,” Zuniga says. “From mentors to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, I’ve never experienced this level of encouragement anywhere else.”

Set to graduate in December, Zuniga and his team spent the summer on a national fellowship sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit, which focuses on helping startup companies. He credits �鶹ӳ����ý for connecting him with opportunities that have shaped his startup, allowing it to make training more accessible and scalable.

Leading Florida’s Future

As �鶹ӳ����ý attracts top talent, strengthens industry partnerships and drives innovation that benefits the state and nation, the university’s impact is felt across key sectors — from healthcare and nursing to space and defense — positioning �鶹ӳ����ý as a vital contributor to Florida’s prosperity.

For the 2025-26 academic year, �鶹ӳ����ý boasts its strongest class in years. The university received a record 65,900 applicants from first-year students for 8,100 spots in the Summer and Fall 2025 semesters. The average high school GPA for fall freshmen was 4.24 and the class posted a 1347 average SAT score.

What Comes Next

When it comes to preeminence, the Board of Governors must first verify the results of �鶹ӳ����ý’s 12 metrics. Once verified, the 12 metrics will come before the �鶹ӳ����ý Board of Trustees for approval in April 2026, and would then move onto the Board of Governors for certification and official designation in June.

President Cartwright shared that his priority for any new dollars that come with the official preeminence designation is investment in the faculty and staff who propel the university’s excellence.

From there, the sky is the limit as �鶹ӳ����ý continues to build on our innovations in student success at scale, grow as Florida’s Premier University for Engineering, Technology and Innovation, and become a top 25 public research university.

The worldwide rankings, , place �鶹ӳ����ý in a tie with Yale University (57) and ahead of U.S. institutions such as Vanderbilt (56), Princeton (44) and Florida State University (38).

The NAI rankings may be further adjusted as patent corrections are submitted by universities.

This is the 11^th year that �鶹ӳ����ý has ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for patents.

“Innovation is at the heart of our mission at �鶹ӳ����ý, and these latest patent rankings reaffirm our commitment to pushing boundaries and making impactful advancements,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, �鶹ӳ����ý’s interim vice president for research and innovation. “The range of inventions reflects the dedication and ingenuity of our researchers across the research enterprise, and their efforts continue to position �鶹ӳ����ý as a leader in innovation, both nationally and globally.”

The patents were secured by �鶹ӳ����ý’s , which brings discoveries to the marketplace and connects �鶹ӳ����ý researchers with companies and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into successful products.

Svetlana Shtrom��’08MBA, director of �鶹ӳ����ý’s Technology Transfer Office, says university patents are a valuable asset for universities, industry and society.

“Patents facilitate transfer of technology from universities and foster collaboration between academia and the private sector,” Shtrom says. “Through collaboration with industry, university technologies provide solutions to pressing problems and create new products and services that benefit the public.”

She says the patents also reflect the commitment of the university’s researchers to innovation, and they serve as a beacon to attract more students and faculty who are interested in cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship.

Here are a few of the �鶹ӳ����ý inventions that led to patents in 2023:

Passive Insect Surveillance Sensor Device
Lead researcher: Bradley Willenberg, assistant professor, �鶹ӳ����ý

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use device for detection of mosquitos and other insects that also indicates whether an insect carries a specific infectious disease. Through simple color-based tests (colorimetric assays) and biomolecular tools for detection (DNA aptamers conjugated to nanoparticles), a user can monitor viral presence in insect saliva samples. By doing so, various mosquito-borne emerging pathogens, including Zika, Dengue, and Chikunguya, can be detected.  The easily deployable technology can potentially help in the global fight and prevention against these deadly diseases. The .

Antiplasmodial Compounds
Lead researcher: Debopam Chakrabarti, professor and head,

This technology is a method of treatment for malaria by administration of specific fungus-derived compounds. Annually, malaria affects more than 200 million people and kills more than 600,000. Caused by Plasmodium parasites carried in mosquitos, an effective treatment is desperately needed. �鶹ӳ����ý researchers used a  library of fungi found in habitats and ecological niches across the U.S. to find potential antimalarial compounds. The unique chemicals they identified provide starting points for developing lead compounds of new drugs against malaria. The research team is .

Coating for Capturing and Killing Viruses on Surfaces
Lead researcher: Suditpa Seal, Pegasus Professor and chair,

This technology is a nano-coating designed to capture, hold and kill viruses on a surface, such as on personal protective equipment and clothing, using natural light sources to protect against infections.

The COVID-killing coating is made with a nanomaterial that activates under white light, such as sunlight or LED light. As long as the nanomaterial is exposed to a continuous light source, it can regenerate its antiviral properties, creating a self-cleaning effect.

The efficacy of the disinfectant was shown through a study that was published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces this past year. The study found that the coating can not only destroy the COVID-19 virus, but it can also combat the spread of Zika virus, SARS, parainfluenza, rhinovirus and vesicular stomatitis.

Production of Nanoporous Films
Lead researcher: Yang Yang, associate professor,

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers have created , such as for fuel cells, hydrogen production, photocatalysts, sensing and energy storage, and electrodes in supercapacitors. The method improves performance and versatility and does not require use of costly precious metals, such as gold. Instead, the �鶹ӳ����ý technology uses low-cost, earth-abundant resources such as iron, cobalt and nickel. The nanoporous thin films are designed to help meet today’s challenges in renewable energy production and conversion applications.

Method of Forming High-Throughput 3d Printed Microelectrode Array
Lead researcher: Swaminathan Rajaraman, associate professor, NanoScience Technology Center

This invention is a . The device has small channels and chambers that guide liquids, like samples or chemicals, to a central area where there are special electrodes. These electrodes can send and record electrical signals from tiny groups of cells called spheroids. Scientists can use this to see how cells react to different conditions and substances. The innovation offers an easy way to study biological cells, tissues and electrophysiological responses. The technology can help lead to advancements in disease modeling, toxicity assessments and drug discovery.

Adaptive Visual Overlay for Anatomical Simulation
Lead researcher: Greg Welch, Pegasus Professor, AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation,

This anatomical simulation allows users to wear a head-mounted display that presents an anatomical scenario onto a patient to allow for medical training, surgical training or other instruction. Users who experience the simulation will see a real body part or other anatomical items projected through an augmented reality system. The innovative, and provides constant, dynamic feedback to medical trainees as they treat wounds. Almost like a video game in real-life, the Tactile-Visual Wound Simulation Unit portrays the look, feel, and even the smell of different types of human wounds (such as a puncture, stab, slice or tear). It also tracks and analyzes a trainee’s treatment responses and provides corrective instructions.

System for Extracting Water from Lunar Regolith and Associated Method
Lead researcher: Phil Metzger ’00MS’05PhD, associate scientist,

This invention is and help to establish the industry. The process consists of robot mining of the regolith (loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock), transferring the mined material to a conveyer, and passing the soil through grinding and crushing stages. Included are mechanisms to sort the material into ice, metals, and other minerals, and final transport and cleanup. This technology allows mining water on the moon, which supports NASA missions, enables further commercial operations in space, and supports Space Force activities.

Inorganic Paint Pigment with Plasmonic Aluminum Reflector Layers and Related Methods
Lead researcher: Debashis Chanda, professor, NanoScience Technology Center

This invention, a plasmonic paint, draws inspiration from butterflies to create the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants, which can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce impacts on climate.

The plasmonic paint uses nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials — aluminum and aluminum oxide — instead of pigments to create colors.

While pigment colorants control light absorption based on the electronic property of the pigment material, hence every color needs a new molecule, structural colorants control the way light is reflected, scattered or absorbed based on the geometrical arrangement of nanostructures.

Such structural colors are environmentally friendly as they only use metals and oxides, unlike pigment-based colors that use artificially synthesized molecules.

The researchers have combined their structural color flakes with a commercial binder to form long-lasting paints of all colors. And because plasmonic paint reflects the entire infrared spectrum, less heat is absorbed by the paint, resulting in the underneath surface staying 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than it would if it were covered with standard commercial paint.

Plasmonic paint is also lightweight, a result of the paint’s large area-to-thickness ratio, with full coloration achieved at a paint thickness of only 150 nanometers, making it the lightest paint in the world.

System and Method for Radio Frequency Power Sensing and Scavenging Based on Phonon-electron Coupling in Acoustic Waveguides
Lead researcher: Hakhamanesh Mansoorzare ’21, postdoctoral researcher,

To meet the growing energy needs of the internet of things (IoT) and wireless communication systems, this new technology is .

The invention harvests ambient energy, specifically radio frequency electromagnetic waves, the most abundant form of communication among IoT nodes and hubs.

The technology can reduce the electronic industry’s reliance on batteries and broaden the expansion of the IoT and its energy needs.

To further tap into the hidden gems of research produced by faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, �鶹ӳ����ý is initiating a new program backed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) with mentoring from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The $6 million, NSF-funded interdisciplinary project, led by Ivan Garibay, an associate professor in the will create a �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab that supports budding entrepreneurs through the commercialization process and establishes a newly organized research umbrella at the university.

The funding for the �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab is provided through NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, housed in the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. �鶹ӳ����ý is one of 18 U.S. universities to receive funding through this newly established program.

“NSF endeavors to empower academic institutions to build the pathways and structures needed to speed and scale their research into products and services that benefit the nation,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan in a release. “The Accelerating Research Translation program in NSF’s new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate identifies, and champions institutions positioned to expand their research translation capacity by investing in activities essential to move results to practice.”

The �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab will train and enable faculty, graduate students and postdocs to identify and launch viable businesses based on their novel research. It will provide guidelines on business development, match �鶹ӳ����ý researchers with relevant industry partners and, for a select few, provide funding through the NSF ART grant. The entity will be modeled after the business startup program at Georgia Tech, which will provide mentorship during the development phase.

“�鶹ӳ����ý’s world-class faculty are preparing students to work and lead in the industries of tomorrow, and we are grateful to the NSF for their support in enabling us to speed up research, discovery, and entrepreneurship,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Working with Georgia Institute of Technology, which will serve as a mentoring institution, we look forward to expanding pathways for ideas, products, and programs that make positive impacts on society and keep pace with the speed of innovation.”

Garibay says after comparing notes with Georgia Tech, the project team realized they would benefit from a Venture Lab dedicated to the commercialization of �鶹ӳ����ý research.

“We plan to create that infrastructure here at �鶹ӳ����ý and hope to accelerate the growth of these businesses,” Garibay says.

Community and Societal Impact

Georgia Tech will serve as a mentoring partner for �鶹ӳ����ý’s Venture Lab development. Keith McGregor, the founder of the Georgia Tech VentureLab, will serve as one of the mentors to the �鶹ӳ����ý team, which includes co-principal investigators Carolina Cruz-Neira, a professor in the ; Cameron Ford, an associate professor in the , Svetlana Shtrom, the director of the ; and Winston Schoenfeld, interim vice president for research and innovation. The University of Florida will also collaborate on the project, providing input that will help �鶹ӳ����ý adapt Georgia Tech’s model to the Florida ecosystem.

Locally, the program is expected to have a positive impact on the Orlando area.

“Central Florida is mostly a service-based economy,” Garibay says. “Our median salary is below the nationwide average. The �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab will foster creation of technology companies, which will generate high-paying jobs and will attract a lot of growth to this area.”

The program will also provide pathways for local industry to partner with �鶹ӳ����ý researchers. Organizations such as DeepWork Capital, the Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando and the National Security Innovation Network have already agreed to mentor the �鶹ӳ����ý entrepreneurs and to participate in the ART project advisory board.

ART Seed Translational Research Projects

Multiple seed translational research projects will be selected for funding through the ART program. The first project, led by Professor Guifang Li of the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), will establish a prototype receiver capable of high-speed space-to-ground laser communication that resists atmospheric turbulence. Once the prototype is developed, Li and his team plan to test the project at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Potential clients for the receiver include Blue Origin, OneWeb Technologies and SpaceX.

The second project is led by Center for Research in Computer Vision Assistant Professor Yogesh Rawat. He plans to develop a prototype software that can detect human activities shown in live video streams while ensuring that private information isn’t exposed. The software would be used in surveillance systems to identify emergency situations or potential threats to public safety so that law enforcement or first responders could act quickly to prevent harm.

Other seed translational research projects will be selected through a university competition that will commence next August. �鶹ӳ����ý researchers from all disciplines will be encouraged to apply.

Education Through Action

�鶹ӳ����ý graduates like Wolfe, Drake and countless others were able to launch their businesses with the aid of the skills they developed at �鶹ӳ����ý as well as the encouragement they received from �鶹ӳ����ý researchers and business development programs. To keep the pipeline of Knight-trepreneurs flowing, the NSF ART grant will enhance �鶹ӳ����ý’s educational offerings in entrepreneurship.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Business Administration courses already offered in this topic would expand to allow graduate students and postdocs to take the courses, allowing for a greater diversity of knowledge, skill and perspective in the classroom.

The goal is to instill an entrepreneurial skillset in the next generation so they can better qualify for jobs in changing industries or launch and grow their own business ventures, says Ford, who is also the executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad and the director for the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

“The careers that our students are going into are dynamic,” Ford says. “We’re seeing a lot of changes and disruptions to the industries they work in, so our students need to be adaptable and resilient. They can add value to the companies they work for if they can learn to solve novel problems and execute initiatives. It’s not enough to innovate solutions – the goal is to deliver innovations to those who need them, improving social and economic wellbeing in the process.”

Garibay says that, for engineering students in particular, learning about entrepreneurship can change their whole mindset.

“I think it’s life-changing,” Garibay says. “Entrepreneurship is something we’ve done for a long time and the feedback that I get back from students is that it’s transformative.”

�鶹ӳ����ý Innovate

The NSF ART program doesn’t just allow �鶹ӳ����ý to create a business hub and enhance graduate education – it also establishes a new research umbrella for the university called �鶹ӳ����ý Innovate. This enhanced infrastructure will bring together the Office of Technology Transfer, the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Business Incubation Program along with the developing Venture Lab. �鶹ӳ����ý Innovate will be overseen by Schoenfeld, who leads the Office of Research.

“�鶹ӳ����ý has been consistently ranked as a leading technology-generating institution with a strong entrepreneurial spirit among faculty and students,” Schoenfeld says. “The NSF ART program leverages this to drive new levels of technology translation that ensures strong societal benefit from the innovation across �鶹ӳ����ý.”

Shtrom says that through the ART program, the Office of Technology Transfer will strengthen and enhance the university’s commercialization infrastructure to transform promising research results into products that solve pressing problems and improve people’s lives.

“The NSF funding will allow us to dedicate resources toward cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and culture at �鶹ӳ����ý, increasing the number of startup companies launched to commercialize university technologies, and growing funding and licensing revenue to support and expand the research enterprise,” Shtrom says. “�鶹ӳ����ý is committed to nurturing and sustaining this virtuous cycle of research and innovation to maximize impact for �鶹ӳ����ý, Central Florida, and the nation.”

Tekcapital plc (AIM: TEK), an international provider of technology and intellectual property services, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the exclusive worldwide license to a portfolio of 13 optical technology patents from . The patents enable the development of new, small form, lightweight and see-through high-resolution, head-mounted projection displays with eye tracking. Suitable for collaborative augmented reality (“AR”) applications, the patents are able to support a wide range of consumer, medical, military and industrial applications.

This broad technology portfolio is designed to be incorporated into many existing optical systems such as head-mounted displays and also has the potential to empower the development of next generation wearable optics for both augmented reality and fully immersive virtual reality (“VR”) applications. Wearable displays with compact illumination are able to project video, navigation, messaging and games and overlay augmented reality applications on a large virtual screen format with hands free operation.  The patent portfolio enables design trade-offs between packaging, illumination, field of view and resolution for AR/VR head-mounted projected displays.

This portfolio was developed at , the College of Optics and Photonics. CREOL is one of the world’s foremost institutions for research and education in optical and photonic science and engineering. Over the years, the college has maintained a tradition of promoting growth in optics and photonics and enjoys a strong partnership with industry.

The directors of Tekcapital believe this technology portfolio represents an important IP opportunity with the potential for market adoption across multiple sectors via out-licensing.

Industry potential
According to a report from research firm Gartner, Inc., by 2018 about a third of smart wearables will have near eye head-mounted displays (“HMDs”) with transparent interfaces incorporated into attractive and fashionable designs that will drive mainstream consumer adoption. These HMDs will support AR/VR applications in consumer-grade lightweight, video eyeglasses.

The directors of Tekcapital believe that AR glasses could be transformative and may become the user interface of choice, gradually replacing the hand held smart-phone touchscreen interface for many applications.

With these patents, the directors of Tekcapital believe Tekcapital is well placed to benefit from the growing interest in HMD patent portfolios, as demonstrated by several recently observed transactions by industry leaders  involving HMD patent portfolios, including Microsoft’s acquisition of the Osterhaut Design Group portfolio of 81 patents and applications for $150 Million, Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus VR for $2 Billion and Google’s acquisition of HMD patents from Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) for an undisclosed amount.

Commenting on the acquisition, Dr. Clifford M. Gross, Executive Chairman of Tekcapital, said, “We are excited to have acquired the exclusive license to this important portfolio of patents from the �鶹ӳ����ý and we look forward to commercializing this technology with forward-thinking technology companies that can benefit from improving their products with these advanced optical technologies.”

Svetlana Shtrom, Ph.D., Director of Technology Transfer at the , added, “We are pleased to have licensed this excellent portfolio of optical patents to Tekcapital and we are very excited about the potential for this technology to improve existing optical systems and empower a new generation of improved products.”

Tekcapital will issue 479,060 new ordinary shares (“Consideration Shares”) to �鶹ӳ����ý for the acquisition of the exclusive license to this portfolio of 13 patents and provide a portion of the future revenue generated from the portfolio to the university.

Application will be made for the Consideration Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM, which is expected to become effective on or around 24 April 2015. The Consideration Shares will rank pari passu with the Company’s existing ordinary shares in issue.

Following the issue of the Consideration Shares later this month, Tekcapital will have in issue 23,928,579 ordinary shares of 0.4p each with one voting right each. The Company does not hold any ordinary shares in treasury. Therefore the total number of ordinary shares and voting rights in the Company will be 23,928,579.  This figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

For further information please contact:
Tekcapital Plc – 305-200-3450, Ext: 305 – Clifford M. Gross, cgross@tekcapital.com

Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) – 44(0)20-3394-2972- Jeremy Porter/ Alex Brearley

Optiva Securities Limited (Joint Broker) – 44(0)20-3137-1904
Jeremy King/Vishal Balasingham, jeremy.king@optivasecurities.com

FTI Consulting, LLP – 44(0)20-3727-1000 – Chris Lane/Emma Appleton/Roger Newby, tekcapital@fticonsulting.com

Prior to the merger of the two groups, Svetlana Shtrom had been directing the commercial development of life sciences technologies at �鶹ӳ����ý’s . Svetlana brings over 10 years of experience in life sciences and broad expertise in business development and technology management. She holds an MBA from �鶹ӳ����ý and a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of California at San Francisco.

The Venture Lab’s former director, Kirstie Chadwick, will continue to work with the Venture Lab, focusing her efforts on enhancing the venture coaching network.

The �鶹ӳ����ý Office of Technology Transfer has been guiding scientists and inventors through the complex patenting and commercialization process for over a decade, overseeing issuance of over 340 patents and formation of more than 20 start-up companies. In 2009, �鶹ӳ����ý ranked third in the nation for the strength and impact of its patents and had moved up from seventh place the previous year in the rankings by IEEE, the world’s leading association for the advancement of technology.

Since its inception in 2004, the �鶹ӳ����ý has mentored over 150 technology entrepreneurs in business plan development, investor pitch creation, market research, and product/intellectual property validation. Fifty of the entrepreneurs working with the Venture Lab ultimately started a company in Central Florida. The Venture Lab has worked directly with more than 20 �鶹ӳ����ý faculty researchers and assisted them in commercial evaluation and fundraising.Together, the Office of Technology Transfer and the Venture Lab will combine their strengths to offer to the �鶹ӳ����ý faculty, staff and students a broad range of research commercialization services including intellectual property management, technology evaluation, market assessment, industry analysis, business plan preparation, fundraising assistance, and management team development.

Dr. Svetlana Shtrom, the newly named director of the merged group is “thrilled to lead such a talented and broadly experienced team of specialists.” “I am excited to have the opportunity to build on our strengths and to enhance the breadths of the commercialization services we can offer to our faculty, staff, students and local entrepreneurs. Our combined team is energized and looking forward to assisting inventors and entrepreneurs in developing their ideas and guiding them through the business steps that are critical for successful launch and growth of technology companies.”