University of Florida to bring engineering-based Innovation Station to Sarasota County

BRADENTON -- Local students interested in pursuing a career in engineering will have another option open to them soon, as the University of Florida is moving forward with plans to bring an engineering-based Innovation Station to Venice, which will include a new partnership with State College of Florida.

The Innovation Station is the first extension of the engineering program in the area, and is being supported locally by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Sarasota County commissioners recently signed off on a $1 million five-year grant to

support the program, in addition to the money provided by UF.

The program is also aiming to boost industry relations.

The UF Innovation Station is expected to open within six months in 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of leased office space in Sarasota County, according to Sarasota County.

The school's College of Engineering intends to "provide a cooperative engineering internship program at its main campus in Gainesville to serve Sarasota County through community outreach services," according to the funding request from the University of Florida.

The UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering has more than 9,300 students and $72 million in annual research awards in virtually every discipline, according to UF.

The program will also create the Gator Engineering @ State College of Florida program, an engineering degree program similar to Gator Engineering @ Santa Fe that allows a students to begin their coursework at State College of Florida, gain admission to UF as early as after the first semester, continue coursework at State College of Florida until completion of critical tracking courses, and matriculate to UF to continue their engineering study in their chosen major, according to UF.

The program will extend beyond the two colleges. It also will make available online engineering entrepreneurship and innovation offerings, insight to university technology, and an introduction to potential student interns and targeted workshops, according information provided to the commission. Educational offerings will be available to K-12 students and institutions.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 11:42 PM with the headline "University of Florida to bring engineering-based Innovation Station to Sarasota County ."