In a significant boost to Northwest Florida’s technology sector, three innovative projects from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) received funding at The Takeoff: 2024 Northwest Florida Pitch Day. The event, hosted in partnership with Space Florida, showcased emerging technologies and attracted venture capital firms to the region.
“The Takeoff showcased IHMC’s growing commercialization interests and Florida’s prominence as a hub for cutting-edge technology, investment, and entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Morley Stone, IHMC’s Chief Executive Officer, highlighting the region’s “critical role in shaping the future of innovation.”
Each IHMC project received $5,000 in funding support. The winning projects included a tactile glove technology for improved in-flight control systems, developed by Dr. Jeff Phillips for the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. Another breakthrough came from Andy Bellina’s work on portable electromagnetic sensing technology, designed to be lightweight enough for deployment on small unmanned aircraft while maintaining adaptability for wearable applications.
The third IHMC innovation, presented by Daniel Duran, introduced the KENNEL Threat Detection System, a cost-effective perimeter defense solution for protecting critical infrastructure and military personnel through networked sensors capable of monitoring multiple environmental factors.
Private sector companies also secured significant funding at the event. ATOR Labs from Panama City earned the largest award of $20,000 for their respiratory protective device testing technology. Two other regional companies, RSAE Labs of Lynn Haven and Piersica of Tallahassee, each received $7,500 for their innovations in logistics and battery technology, respectively.
“Through strategic programs like The Takeoff that bring together industry leaders, investors, and government, Space Florida and our partners are driving the commercialization of cutting-edge research,” said Rob Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, “positioning the region as a node in the network of technology research and development.”
The event was additionally supported by TechFarms Capital and Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, demonstrating the strong regional backing for technological advancement in Northwest Florida.