TECH-BASED ECONOMY > INNOVATION HUB

The Andrews Institute

Where do the pros go to improve their performance? Where are the latest innovations in sports medicines emerging? Where are new treatments for vexing injuries being developed? The answer to all these questions is the newly constructed, $30-million Andrews Institute located in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

The Andrews Institute is a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art medical facility that employs cutting-edge technology in a resort-like setting. Guided by the leadership and expertise of world-renown orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, MD, the Andrews Institute is a world-leader in advances of musculoskeletal sciences, focusing on research, education, and prevention. The goal is to provide highly specialized care for patients who include Olympic and professional athletes from all over the world, local sports teams and even “weekend warriors.”

As one of the pillars of Northwest Florida’s Innovation Coast, the Andrews Institute is also home to the Andrews Research and Education Institute (AREI), a global leader in biomechanical research and performance enhancement. Under the direction of Joe Story, MD, AREI’s facilities are designed and equipped with the latest biomechanical technologies that enhance athletic performance while preventing sports-related injuries.

The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition

The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), located in historic downtown Pensacola, is re-thinking the relationship between humans and machines, defining new directions in human-centered computing by linking cutting-edge research into a new alliance of artificial intelligence, psychology, robotics, philosophy, engineering and social and educational studies. From robotic walkers to conceptual education, from the semantic web to aircraft cockpit design, from new agent architectures to natural language communication, IHMC research programs are exploring ways to enable humans and computers to work together synergistically.

IHMC has become more than a home for fascinating research and development. It has, in fact, become a habitat for innovation, re-energizing Pensacola’s downtown, spurring new development nearby, providing new jobs both directly and indirectly, and making major contributions to the local economy. In 2007, the Institute earned the national “Excellence in Economic Development” award from the US Department of Commerce in the category of technology-led economic development.

IHMC employs a professional staff of 80, including 30 PhD scientists. In addition, it maintains affiliations with public and private universities statewide and works with a number of partners including DARPA, NSF, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, NIMA, NIH, DOT, IDEO, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Fujitsu, Procter & Gamble, Boeing, Lockheed, SAIC, and IBM among others. IHMC’s economic impact in Florida is estimated at more than $130 million.